This article will tell you about the career highlights of Cameroonian footballer Andre Onana
André Onana is a Cameroonian professional footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for the French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyon and the Cameroon national team. He was born on April 2, 1996, in Nkol Ngok, Cameroon.
Early Career
Onana began his youth career at Ecole de Football Brasseries du Cameroun, where he was scouted by FC Barcelona. In 2010, he moved to Spain to join La Masia, Barcelona’s youth academy. He quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to the club’s reserve team, Barcelona B, in 2014.
Professional Career
Onana made his professional debut for Barcelona B in the Segunda Division in August 2016. He played 27 games for the team that season and impressed with his performances, attracting the attention of several European clubs. In June 2017, he joined Ajax Amsterdam on a four-year deal.
At Ajax, Onana quickly established himself as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper. He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League in September 2017 and helped the team reach the Europa League final that season, where they lost to Manchester United.
Onana was instrumental in Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals the following season, making crucial saves in the knockout rounds against Real Madrid and Juventus.
Onana’s performances at Ajax attracted the interest of several top European clubs, and he was linked with a move away from the club in the summer of 2019.
However, he decided to stay at Ajax for another season and helped the team win their first Eredivisie title in five years. He also played a key role in Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals, where they were eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur in dramatic fashion.
In February 2020, Onana was suspended for 12 months by UEFA for doping violations. He tested positive for the banned substance Furosemide, which he claimed was the result of taking medication prescribed to his wife. The suspension was later reduced to nine months on appeal, allowing Onana to resume playing in November 2021.
Onana joined Olympique Lyon on loan for the 2021-22 season, with an option to buy. He made his debut for the club in October 2021 and helped them reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League. Lyon exercised their option to buy Onana at the end of the season, and he signed a four-year contract with the club.
In 2022, Onana signed a five-year contract with Inter Milan and he has been performing exceptionally good for them. He helped the club reach their first ever Champions League final since 2010. Let me tell you Inter won their first UCL title under Jose Mourinho in 2009/10 season.
International Career
Onana has represented the Cameroon national team since 2016. He was part of the team that won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and has played in several World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He was also part of the Cameroon squad that reached the round of 16 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Conclusion
André Onana is one of the most talented goalkeepers in world football, with an impressive career at club and international level. He has won several titles with Ajax Amsterdam and helped them reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in consecutive seasons.
He is now plying his trade at Olympique Lyon and will be looking to continue his success at the French club. Despite his doping suspension, Onana remains a highly sought-after goalkeeper and is widely regarded as one of the best in his position.