Manchester United’s Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana has revealed that he is targeting a return from injury in time for the high‑stakes Premier League opener against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, 17 August, as the Red Devils look to lay down a marker under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Onana, who missed the entirety of United’s Pre‑season Summer Series in the United States due to a hamstring injury sustained in training, has been working hard on his recovery and was giving updates to NBC Sports during the tour’s final stop in Atlanta.
“I feel good, I feel great,” Onana said. “It’s been a few difficult weeks but yeah, hopefully, I will be back for the start of the season. I’m enjoying the training with my guys and we are looking forward.”
He went on to emphasise the importance of a strong start to the campaign: “I think it’s going to be important to have a good start against Arsenal and then everything is possible.”
Off the back of a turbulent 2024–25 campaign, which saw United finish 15th in the league and fail to secure European qualification for the first time in over three decades, Onana insists there is a new spirit around the squad this summer. He described “togetherness” as the key difference going into the new season.
“We work hard, we enjoy training together. We have fun and that is key. When we are together, we are going to be hard to beat,” he said during his interview.
“We know last season was tough for us and must make sure this doesn’t happen again. We know the way.”
Background to Onana’s injury reveals United faced a significant blow when the Cameroon international pulled up with the hamstring issue in training at Carrington, ruling him out of all pre‑season preparations in the U.S. and putting his availability for the opener in serious doubt.
Initial estimates suggested a return timeline of five to six weeks, potentially extending to up to eight weeks, adding to manager Amorim’s goalkeeper dilemma.
While Onana rehabilitated, United deputised with Altay Bayındır and veteran Tom Heaton, each of whom featured during the Summer Series.
Bayındır played against West Ham and Everton, with Heaton starting the 4‑1 victory over Bournemouth. Despite keeping United unbeaten in the States, none of the matches featured a clean sheet, leaving questions over defensive solidity ahead of the competitive season.
Off the pitch, United have been linked with several goalkeeper targets to provide cover during Onana’s absence—or possibly challenge him for the number one shirt.
Reports mention interest in Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens, valued at around £17 million, who has confirmed mutual interest.
Discussions have also surfaced regarding Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega, a remarkably rare potential inter‑city transfer.
There had also been speculation around Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa and even Paris Saint‑Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, though United have reportedly chosen not to engage in a bidding war.
Onana’s journey to Old Trafford has been marked by high expectations and occasional criticism.
Signed from Inter Milan in summer 2023 for approximately £47 million, he has been praised for his sweeper‑keeper style and distribution—traits he honed previously at Ajax and Inter, winning domestic titles and reaching a Champions League final before his move.
However, errors in key European matches, including a pair of mistakes in a Europa League tie against Lyon, led to him being temporarily dropped by then‑manager Erik ten Hag before eventually reclaiming his position.
Once dropped, he was defended by the club hierarchy, though debate raged over his consistency.
Under Amorim, Onana appears to be firmly in the plans, with the club reluctant to splash on high‑profile replacements while confident in their ability to manage the situation.
If he remains unavailable for the opener, the delegation duties will fall to Bayındır or Heaton, though both have left question marks in their recent form.
As the countdown to 17 August ticks down, Onana’s personal race for recovery is closely aligned with Manchester United’s broader ambitions of resurgence.