Barcelona looking to sign Onana as free agent in 2022
Martin Macdonald
- 6 Oct 2021 13:45 BST
- 5 min read
Barcelona will attempt to sign Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana as a free agent in 2022, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
At the moment, Barca are shopping in the free agent market due to their current financial situation.
In 2021 they have signed Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia on free transfers and will look at players whose contracts expire at the end of the current season to sign as they cannot afford hefty transfer fees.
Even though the Blaugrana currently have one of the best goalkeepers around in Marc-Andre ter Stegen, they could look to bring in Onana either as competition for or as a replacement for the Germany international.
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In February of 2021, the Cameroonian was banned from playing football for 12 months by UEFA after testing positive for Furosemide, a banned substance.
That ban has now been reduced to nine months, but it has contributed to a breakdown in the relationship between the player and Ajax.
The sporting director of the Dutch giants, Marc Overmars, stated in September that Ajax no longer wish to renew Onana's contract beyond 2022.
“We are not working on the renewal of Andre Onana’s contract,” Overmars stated.
“We have already tried and it has not worked out, so we have moved on. An agreement had been made that would have included a transfer in the summer, this did not happen and it was not our fault.
"Andre Onana said in an interview last week that we have withdrawn from trying to renew his contract. And yes, that’s true. But we did so with reason.”
Who could sign Onana?
The favourites to sign Onana next summer remain Inter, who believe they have a "verbal agreement" for the deal to happen at the conclusion of the campaign.
The Serie A side are looking for a long-term replacement for veteran stopper Samir Handanovic and like Barcelona, they cannot currently afford to spend big on transfers.
Other clubs interested are Lyon, Napoli and Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona's desire to sign Onana has came after this group of clubs, but the Blaugrana believe they have an advantage over their rivals due to the fact that the player used to play in their youth system.
Onana joined Barca in 2010 after graduating from the Samuel Eto'o Foundation.
He wouldn't make an appearance for the first team before leaving five years later for Ajax.
With the Dutch giants, he has won two Eredivisie titles, one KNVB Cup and was a runner-up in the Europa League.
He was also part of the side that so impressively reached the semi-finals of the 2019-20 Champions League.
