Senne Lammens vs Andre Onana: Breaking Down the Goalkeeper Battle at Man Utd

Manchester United has faced significant upheaval in the goalkeeper position since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, creating ongoing uncertainty between the posts.

The club previously boasted one of the globe's finest keepers in David de Gea, but his decline made his 2023 exit unsurprising. André Onana was brought in as the solution, a transfer that received positive reception, yet the Cameroonian has encountered difficulties meeting expectations at Old Trafford, much like many other new arrivals.

Onana's tenure at United has been marked by erratic performances, with some suggesting he never fully recovered from his initial struggles. Consequently, United began the 2025-26 season still facing goalkeeper concerns, though it's clear that the unreliable Altay Bayındır poses no real threat to Onana's position.

The club is preparing to bring in another option with 23-year-old Belgian keeper Senne Lammens, a relatively unknown player before United's interest surfaced. While it appears the Red Devils are taking a calculated risk, there are indications that Lammens might offer genuine competition for Onana's spot.

Below is a comparison of these two goalkeepers across several crucial aspects.

Shot-Stopping

Onana's United career began shakily, but he improved throughout his first campaign, ultimately recording nine clean sheets, a tally he repeated the following season.

He concluded the 2023-24 season ranking fifth in the Premier League for goals prevented (2.7), according to FBRef data.

Onana possesses athleticism and explosiveness, capable of producing remarkable saves, as demonstrated by his consecutive double saves early last season against Crystal Palace and Fenerbahçe. While he can excel as a shot-stopper, fluctuating confidence has led to basic mistakes entering his performances.

The Cameroonian has lacked consistency at Manchester, dropping to 18th in the Premier League last season with only 1.0 goals prevented. His save rate also declined from 74.9% to 68.9%.

Conversely, Lammens enjoyed a superb 2024-25 season with Royal Antwerp, who secured fifth place in the Belgian Pro League. The 23-year-old concluded the campaign with an 81.4% save rate and an impressive 14.5 goals prevented. Lammens made more saves than any other goalkeeper in Belgium last season and is already considered Thibaut Courtois's potential national team successor.

Throughout his brief senior career, Lammens has excelled as a shot-stopper.

Aerial Ability

The 6'6 Bayındır demonstrates that stature doesn't guarantee aerial command. Standing 6'4, Lammens presents an intimidating figure and towers three inches above Onana. Statistical evidence also suggests a confident goalkeeper when crosses enter his area.

Over the previous year, Lammens ranks in the 99th percentile among all goalkeepers in leagues outside Europe's top five (plus the next 14 strongest) by claiming 13.2% of crosses entering the penalty box. Onana, by comparison, has managed barely 5%.

Since the 2018-19 season, the Cameroonian has never exceeded 9.3% of crosses claimed in any single campaign.

While Lammens will face greater challenges from the Premier League's physical nature, current statistics indicate he significantly outperforms Onana in this area.

Distribution

Onana has been characterized as the quintessential 'contemporary goalkeeper', comfortable beyond his line and functioning as an additional outfield player during possession. Yet the exceptional form he displayed in Amsterdam and Milan has rarely emerged in Manchester.

The Cameroonian demonstrates strong ball-handling skills and represents an upgrade from David de Gea, though he hasn't transformed United's build-up play, which remains sluggish under Amorim's guidance.

Onana hasn't been assisted by having anxious ball-players in front of him, plus attacking players who seldom capitalize on his long-range passing accuracy. His two weakest seasons regarding pass completion have occurred at United.

Lammens exceeded Onana's pass completion percentage by 3.6% last season, though he averaged 2.4 fewer attempts per 90 minutes. Belgian football specialist Bart Tamsyn (via Transfermarkt.com) notes the 23-year-old "handles both feet comfortably," but identified playing from the back as an area requiring development.

Therefore, while Onana hasn't showcased his best distribution at United, he appears more instinctive and composed in possession than Lammens, who isn't problematic but might struggle with the Premier League's complex pressing systems.

Senne Lammens vs. André Onana Club Career Records