The Red Devils have made a substantial £47 million investment in the Cameroonian goalkeeper who is set to step into the shoes of David De Gea between the posts.
Back in 2020, it was reported that Onana allocated a portion of his salary to fund an electric grid providing power to a small African town.
Hailing from Cameroon, Onana initially had no intentions of supporting his mother’s hometown, Mengueeme. However, after signing a £20,000-per-week contract in 2019 during his time with Ajax, he felt compelled to give back. Onana invested his earnings in a power grid, bringing electricity to the Essoessam population and ending their reliance on kerosene lamps.
Andre Onana also established the Andre Onana Foundation in 2016, aimed at assisting young African children. The foundation provides resources for better education, access to medical care, and support for those affected by terrorist attacks.
Onana’s journey to success is also linked to the mentorship he received from Samuel Eto’o, the former Barcelona star. As a protege of Eto’o’s academy in Cameroon, Onana began his footballing journey at the La Masia Academy at the age of 14. While grateful for Eto’o’s support, Onana’s time in Catalonia didn’t go as planned.
In 2014, Barcelona faced FIFA sanctions for breaking the rules concerning the signing of foreign young players. This ban meant that Barça’s young talents, including Onana, couldn’t participate in competitive matches for 18 months.
