On Thursday, Manchester United finalized the signing of Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana for 51 million euros ($57 million), reuniting Erik ten Hag with a man with whom he won three Dutch titles at Ajax.
Onana has agreed to a five-year deal. The deal also includes a one-year option to extend it, for which United will be required to pay 4 million euros ($4.5 million) in add-ons depending on his achievement at the club.
“To join Manchester United is an incredible honor and I have worked hard all my life to get to this moment, overcoming many obstacles along the way,” the Cameroon goalkeeper said.
Onana should allow Ten Hag to carry out his intentions to create a play from the defence, something struggled to do with De Gea last season because of his comfort with the ball in his feet.
He replaces David de Gea, who revealed earlier this month that he was leaving United after 12 years with the team.
Pep Guardiola praised Onana’s footwork as one of Inter’s primary qualities before the Champions League final last month, which Manchester City won 1-0. In that final, Onana’s distribution and ability to step out of his area to receive the ball were on show, justifying Guardiola’s praise.