Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana will not participate in the club’s pre-season tour of the United States after suffering a hamstring injury during training. The 29-year-old Cameroon international is expected to make a full recovery following initial treatment but will not feature in any of the upcoming matches during the Premier League Summer Series in July. However, Onana will still travel with the squad to the U.S., where he will focus on his recovery while his teammates continue their preparations for the new season.
This injury setback means that Altay Bayindir, the 27-year-old goalkeeper from Turkey, is likely to step in as Ruben Amorim’s first-choice for the pre-season fixtures. Bayindir, who has faced questions about his future at Old Trafford after being left out in favor of Onana in the Europa League final despite Onana’s own recent struggles, will now get the opportunity to showcase his skills ahead of the season opener.
Onana’s Injury and United’s Goalkeeping Depth
The timing of Onana’s injury raises questions about Manchester United’s goalkeeping options. With Onana having made several high-profile mistakes since his £47.2m move from Inter Milan in 2023, it remains unclear whether his injury will prompt the club to explore the transfer market for another goalkeeper. While there had been some speculation earlier in the year about United potentially seeking alternatives, Ruben Amorim expressed his continued trust in Onana, emphasizing that the goalkeeper had returned to pre-season training with the belief that he would remain first-choice for the upcoming campaign.
United’s other goalkeeping options include Tom Heaton, who recently signed a one-year extension to continue with the club. At 39 years old, Heaton will likely be used as a backup option. Additionally, United has younger goalkeepers in Radek Vitek (21), who impressed during a loan spell at FC Blau-Weiss Linz in Austria, and Elyh Harrison (19) and Dermot Mee (22), who have been named on the bench but lack senior experience.
Pre-Season Schedule and Premier League Preparations
Manchester United’s pre-season tour will begin with a match against Leeds United in Stockholm on 19 July, followed by a series of games in the United States, including fixtures against West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton from 27 July to 3 August. These matches will serve as key preparation for the new season, culminating in a final pre-season test against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on 9 August.
United’s Premier League campaign kicks off on 17 August with a high-profile match against Arsenal, marking the beginning of their pursuit of success in the new season. With Onana sidelined, all eyes will be on Bayindir and the rest of the goalkeeping squad to step up during this critical period.