Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana
The Cameroonian goalkeeper and his family walked away from a frightening chain-reaction collision in Turkey hours after keeping a clean sheet
By Pascal Okoth
Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana escaped serious injury yesterday after a three-vehicle road accident in Turkey while travelling home with his family following a UEFA Conference League victory.
The 30-year-old Cameroonian international was taken to hospital for medical assessment after the crash but was later discharged after examinations found no serious injuries, bringing considerable relief to supporters of Trabzonspor, Manchester United and the Cameroon national team.
The accident occurred on Thursday evening in the Yomra district near Trabzon, only hours after Onana had helped Trabzonspor secure a 2-0 victory over Scottish side Hearts in the Conference League, keeping a clean sheet in a performance that had further strengthened his standing at the club.
According to reports, Onana was driving home with his family when another vehicle struck his car from behind at high speed. The impact pushed his vehicle into the car travelling ahead, triggering a chain-reaction collision involving three vehicles. Emergency services responded to the scene and transported the goalkeeper to hospital as a precaution. His vehicle sustained visible damage, and the force of the collision made the incident alarming from the outset.
Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan moved quickly to reassure supporters. “André Onana was involved in a road traffic accident earlier this evening. There are no problems with him, and we wish him a speedy recovery,” Doğan said, according to media reports. The statement offered the reassurance that supporters had been waiting for, confirming that Onana had avoided serious harm despite the severity of the collision.
The hospital visit was understood to be precautionary, allowing medical professionals to conduct thorough checks following the crash. Road accidents can have unpredictable consequences even when those involved appear physically unharmed, and the decision to carry out a full assessment was the responsible course of action.
Onana is currently on loan at Trabzonspor from Manchester United, having returned to the Turkish club after an earlier spell that earned him strong support among the fan base. The move provided an opportunity to rebuild confidence and maintain regular playing time after a challenging period at Old Trafford, where he faced criticism following costly errors in important matches.
At Trabzonspor, he has responded with a series of encouraging displays, including several clean sheets as the club competes across the Turkish Super Lig and European football. Thursday’s performance against Hearts was another positive contribution to what has been a productive loan spell.
Onana originally joined Manchester United from Inter Milan in 2023, arriving with a well-established reputation as a goalkeeper comfortable playing out from the back. He had previously impressed at Ajax and Inter, where his distribution and composure under pressure were central to both clubs’ styles of play. Despite the difficulties he experienced in England, the Cameroonian remains an experienced international with considerable pedigree at the highest level.
Attention will now turn to whether the accident affects his availability for Trabzonspor’s upcoming fixtures. As of yesterday, no confirmation had emerged that Onana would miss his next match. His participation will depend on the outcome of any further medical assessments and the club’s judgment regarding his readiness to return to training and competitive action. The club’s medical staff will be best placed to make that determination, and no unnecessary pressure should be placed on the goalkeeper to return before he is fully ready.
The incident is a sobering reminder that footballers, regardless of their public profiles and professional commitments, face the same everyday risks as other road users. A high-impact, multi-vehicle collision of the kind Onana experienced could easily have produced a far more serious outcome.
Fortunately, the available reports indicate that he and his family escaped without serious injuries. For Onana, his family and everyone connected to Trabzonspor, that is the most important news to emerge from an otherwise frightening ordeal.
The football community will be hoping the goalkeeper makes a full recovery from the shock of the experience and returns to action when medically cleared. His safety and that of his loved ones remain far more significant than any forthcoming fixture.
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