Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana has become the fifth African goalkeeper to play in the Premier League. The Cameroonian international made his debut for the Red Devils on Monday, August 14, 2023, in a 1-0 win against Wolves.
Onana joins a distinguished list of African goalkeepers who have graced the Premier League stage, including:
- Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe): Grobbelaar was one of the most successful goalkeepers in Premier League history, winning two league titles with Liverpool and playing in the Champions League final in 1984.
- Richard Kingson (Ghana): Kingson was a journeyman goalkeeper who played for several clubs in England, including Blackpool, Wigan, and Birmingham. He was also a regular for the Ghana national team, appearing in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
- Carl Ikeme (Nigeria): Ikeme was a popular figure at Wolves, where he made over 200 appearances before being diagnosed with leukemia in 2018. He has since recovered and is now working as a goalkeeping coach at Wolves.
- Édouard Mendy (Senegal): Mendy is the most recent African goalkeeper to join the Premier League, and he has quickly established himself as one of the best in the world. He won the Golden Glove award in his first season with Chelsea, and he was also named to the PFA Team of the Year.
Onana is hoping to follow in the footsteps of these great goalkeepers and make a significant impact in the Premier League. He is a talented shot-stopper with excellent reflexes and distribution skills. He is also a vocal leader on the pitch, and he is sure to be a valuable asset to Manchester United.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper has a lot to prove in the Premier League, but he has all the tools to be a success. He is young, hungry, and talented, and he is sure to be a key figure for Manchester United in the years to come.
