Manchester United’s slender 1-0 victory over Everton on February 24, 2026, was defined not by the scorer but by the serene performance of goalkeeper Senne Lammens, whose assured display prompted Everton manager David Moyes to label him “bloody brilliant” and sparked immediate comparisons to club great Edwin van der Sar.
Analysing the match, former United captain Gary Neville highlighted the young Belgian’s composure under a late barrage. “The tip over the bar at the end, there was a shot that just bounced in front of him and he just held it, and then Everton had 10 corners,” Neville said. “He didn’t deal with every single one but he dealt with a lot of them, and I think having a goalkeeper of composure who just does his job calmly, isn’t frantic, isn’t sort of rushing around, I think makes a big difference in moments like that when you come into a place like this and they’re putting enormous pressure on you.”
A New Foundation
Lammens, a £18 million signing from Royal Antwerp, has rapidly impressed since his arrival, with United’s interim head coach Michael Carrick noting his “demeanour, composure, and body language” bear a striking resemblance to the legendary Van der Sar. Neville himself has admitted he may have been too quick to judge the 22-year-old, stating he has been “really impressed” and that Lammens appears to possess the necessary temperament and technical quality.
This burgeoning promise stands in stark contrast to the turbulent and now likely concluded chapter of his predecessor, André Onana. Signed for an initial £43.8 million from Inter Milan in July 2023, with potential add-ons of £3.4 million, Onana arrived on a five-year contract with a further one-year option, tasked with replacing the departed David de Gea after his 12-year tenure.
The Onana Rollercoaster
Onana’s time at Old Trafford was marked by high-profile inconsistency. Neville had initially expressed concerns about replacing De Gea and later branded Onana a “clown” after errors in a draw against Lyon, also criticising a “really poor” moment against Arsenal where he parried a shot to an opponent. A poor pass that led to a goal against Brentford epitomised his struggles, though he was part of the side that won the FA Cup in the 2023-24 season.
As of September 2025, Onana was reported to be on loan at Turkish side Trabzonspor with an option for a permanent transfer, a move that would effectively end his United career. The club has reportedly set an asking price of around £30 million for the goalkeeper amid interest from Monaco.
Before his United move, Onana had joined Inter Milan on a free transfer from Ajax in July 2022, reaching the Champions League final in his sole season. At Ajax, he made 214 appearances and won three Eredivisie titles. His career was interrupted by a 12-month UEFA doping ban in 2021, which was later reduced to nine months.
The financial commitment to Onana was significant. His contract carried an average annual salary of $6,240,000, with his weekly wage reported as £120,000 in May 2025, though other sources indicated it was £57,500. His deal was set to run until June 2028.
Statistically against Everton, Onana had kept three clean sheets, conceded two goals, and made 20 saves in four Premier League appearances for United, including a clean sheet, two goals conceded, and eight saves in two appearances during the 2024-25 season. Those numbers now belong to a past era, with Lammens having seized the role.
The shadow of United’s goalkeeping pantheon—Peter Schmeichel, Edwin van der Sar, and David de Gea—looms large over any incumbent. Onana was once viewed as a potential successor to that lineage, but his journey has diverged sharply. Now, with Senne Lammens earning comparisons to Van der Sar and calming words from critics like Gary Neville, United’s search for stability between the posts appears to have taken a decisive new turn.
