Amadou Onana’s Story: A Journey of Football and Family Support

Since the age of six, Amadou knew exactly what he wanted in life: to establish himself permanently in Belgium, where his father lived, and to build a strong foundation for his career. He embarked on this journey from Senegal, eager to make his mark. At Anderlecht, he embraced the opportunity to be mentored in the style of the great Paul Pogba, setting his sights on becoming a professional footballer.

Family played a pivotal role in Amadou Onana’s journey. His older sister, Mélissa Onana, stands out as both his sibling and the head of his football management team, known for her caring, protective nature and keen intelligence. Amadou plays football not just for personal success, but to bring pride and joy to his family, especially his mother, who battled Myasthenia gravis and takes immense pride in his achievements on the field.

Beyond football, Amadou possesses another talent: a wonderful singing voice that once led fans to suggest he could pursue a career in music instead. Yet, his passion remains focused on excelling in the beautiful game.

Our Amadou Onana Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents, Family Background, Siblings – Sister (Mélissa Onana), Girlfriend, etc.

Again, this Bio explains details of Onana’s Family Origin, Ethnicity, Hometown, Religion, etc. Not forgetting, we’ll also give you information on the Belgian’s Lifestyle, Personal Life, Net Worth, and Salary – up to what he makes every second with Everton.

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, some fans accused Amadou Onana of picking the wrong career. For some, the Defensive footballer is a Devil with the voice of an Angel. Now here is video evidence of Onana’s voice.

We’ll tell you the story of an Athlete who has a complicated start to his football journey. Joined with a physical distance from family, it helped Onana grow faster. We’ll tell you the role Melissa Onana played in taking care of her brother’s career interests. Not forgetting how Onana decided he would play for Everton because of this day.

Preamble:

Our version of Amadou Onana Biography begins by telling you notable events of his boyhood years. Next, we’ll explain the difficult start of his career, including his journey through different academies in the quest for success. Again, how the towering 6’4″ Belgian midfielder achieved fame in the beautiful game.

We hopes to whet your autobiography appetite as you read Amadou Onana Bio. To begin right away, let’s present you this photo gallery that tells the story of Ba Zeund’s memorable boyhood days and great rise. Without a doubt, this Gaint Red Devil Baller has come a long way in his amazing journey.

Yes, you and I know that the Gaint Belgian international is technically adept, strong, and quick (That Jose Mourinho type of player). Truth be told, Onana is different from many other midfielders because of his strong personality. He is someone who always dares his opponents and never hides from a challenge.

While writing the History of Belgian Football Players, we found a knowledge deficit in the midfield department. The truth is, not many fans have read a detailed version of Amadou Onana’s Biography, which is very exciting. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Amadou Onana Childhood Story:

For Biography starters, he bears the full name – Amadou Zeund Georges Ba Mvom Onana. The Belgian footballer, nicknamed “Onu,” was born on the 16th day of August 2001 to a Senegalese mother and a Cameroonian father in Dakar, Senegal.

Amadou Onana is not the only child of his parents but one among other siblings (notably a sister whose name is Mélissa). They (who are truly close siblings) were born to the blissful union between their Senegalese Mum and a Cameroonian Dad.

Growing-Up:

Amadou spent his childhood years alongside his older sister, Mélissa Onana. We best describe her as a caring, protective, and intelligent woman who has always been the guiding force in her younger brother Amadou’s life.

The Belgian national with African Senegalese and Cameroonian origin spent his childhood years in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. According to the footballer, he left his birthplace of Dakar to travel into exile in Belgium at the age of 11. The departure was largely for two reasons; the first was education, and the second was to pursue a football career.

Amadou Onana Early Life:

If you ask the towering talent who motivated him to love soccer, he would mention his sister, Melissa. As kids, Amadou Onana’s parents instilled in them a strong sense of family values, encouraging him and Melissa always to support each other.

From a young age, Melissa Onana cultivated a love for photography. She found joy in capturing her brother’s football moments. Later, she skillfully merged her photography hobby with her growing interest in the sport.

This passion for Melissa soon evolved into a career in football management. As I write this Bio, Amadou Onana’s sister is a professional football agent. As a valued partner with Be The Future Management (the agency that represents her brother), she proudly oversees his thriving career.

While growing up, Amadou Onana accepted Paul Pogba as his football idol. He began adoring the French midfielder during his early teenage years. Back then, people said the Belgian star had the same similarities with Paul Pogba, including their style of play. Asides from the French Midfielder, he (at an earlier childhood time) had the likes of Ronaldinho, Robinho, and Ronaldo de Lima as his role models.

Amadou Onana Family Background:

To get a proper understanding of the big man in the middle, let’s dive into his roots. Growing up in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, Amadou Onana shared a large house with 14 persons living in it – including extended family members. He lived together with his siblings (including Mélissa Onana), his Mother, aunt, grandparents and cousins.

Although Amadou Onana’s Parents weren’t rich, he had a sweet upbringing in Dakar. In the part of Segenal get grew up, people didn’t have much, and there were lots of families that struggled. Amadou saw lots of households struggling to feed. In most cases, families would eat breakfast but wouldn’t know where their evening meal was going to come from.

Owing to the sufferings of people he saw during his childhood, Onana today holds the people of Senegal so close to his heart. He has revealed that he makes it his responsibility to help people by setting up charities rather than see himself become wasteful (spending monies unnecessarily).

Both of Amadou Onana’s Parents met and fell in love while living in Belgium. For personal reasons, they agreed to raise their children in Dakar, Senegal. At some point during their stay in Dakar, Onana’s Dad returned to Belgium, leaving his wife and children behind.

From the age of six, Amadou began frequenting Belgium to visit his Father. It was only for a short period of stay as he always returned back to Senegal. But as Onana grew older, he decided he wanted to stay permanently in Belgium. The reason was because of his football career, as well as his education. In his words;

“Me, my sister, Mélissa, and my mum travelled to Belgium initially. Then my brother joined us two years later after finishing his primary school.

Living in Belgium was a big change in terms of culture and language. It was just so different… the way people live.

In Senegal, everyone could live together and always try to help each other when the need arises. They do that even if they don’t have much money.”

More on Amadou Onana’s family background:

It is obvious that the members of the Belgian footballers’ household are close-knitted and very reserved. The most notable information about Amadou Onana’s parents that has reached the press is the case of his Mum’s health. Our findings revealed that she once suffered from the effects of Myasthenia gravis.

Amadou Onana’s mother experienced a health condition comparable to that of Tyrell Malacia‘s mother, the Dutch left-back. Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of voluntary muscles.

It is important to state that Amadou Onana’s parents are mostly away from the limelight. His sister, Melissa, has always been at the forefront regarding the management of her little brother’s career. Reflecting how the Onana siblings have come a long way, Melissa once said;

I am extremely proud of us, especially how we manage everything. How we communicate with one another and how we learn from our mistakes.

Also, how we have grown as a team as players and agents, and most importantly, as brothers and sisters.

Amadou Onana Family Origin:

Although the Belgian professional footballer plays for the Red Devils, his ancestral roots are traced to Africa. Regarding the part of Senegal Amadou Onana’s family comes, our research points to the Colobane part of Dakar. Although he has three nationalities: Senegal, Cameroon and Belgium.

Amadou Onana is best described as a footballer of Senegalese-Cameroonian origins. The footballer has Senegalese origin because he was born in Senegal, which is the country his Mum comes from. On the other hand, Amadou Onana’s Father is from Cameroon, and that qualifies him to be a citizen of the country.

On his Transfermkt page, the Defensive midfielder has citizenship only for Senegalese and Belgium (through Naturalisation). There is an exception in Cameroon, the county of Amadou Onana’s Dad. Now, here is a map that portrays the origins of the Dakar-born Athlete.

Amadou Onana Ethnicity:

Because of their origins, the Defensive midfielder joins the likes of Jeremy Doku, Romelu Lukaku, Romeo Lavia, and Loïs Openda, who are Afro-Belgians. Owing to his ethnicity, Amadou Onana also identifies with the diaspora and Black African community in Belgium.

According to Everton’s website, Wolof is the mother tongue of Amadou Onana. This language, which is the first he learned to speak, is spoken mostly by the Wolof people of Senegal, Mauritania, and the Gambia.

Amadou Onana Education:

Following our research, we found out that the Toweing talent attended Saint-Michel College in Etterbeek, a Municipality in Belgium. When Amadou Onana’s family (with the exception of his Dad) lived in Dakar, he attended kindergarten and completed his primary school.

Again, results from our research show that Onana was naturally gifted (very intelligent) in the classroom. Back in the day, he (like Dutch footballer Davy Klaassen) was extremely good at mathematics. Onana loved maths as his favourite subject because he found it easy to apply logic to problem-solving.

When he relocated to Belgium at age 11, Onana continued schooling at Saint-Michel College. From the age of 11 (when he began living with both his Dad and Mum in Europe), he gradually began to develop a full commitment to his football career. Now, let’s tell you more about the Athlete’s soccer journey.

Amadou Onana Biography – Football Story:

Vivid memories of his early days with the beautiful game started in the streets of Colobane, Dakar, Senegal. Amadou was raised in a football environment which saw many kids (mostly in the evenings) leave home to the untared streets to play soccer.

In other to improvise a football field from the streets, the boys would take two rocks and use them as goalposts. That was all the boys needed to create their perfect football field – as in the case of Paul Onuchau and his childhood friends.

Inside Amadou Onana’s family, there are rules guiding when he goes out to play evening football with friends. Their mother always insisted that he must complete his homework just after he returned from school before getting approval for playing evening football.

In other to satisfy his Mum, Onana formed the habit of doing his homework real quick, before dawn (when football calls). Playing the beautiful game with friends was ultimately seen as his undisputed passion. That passion changed to a whole new level when he moved to Europe in 2012.

Early Life in Belgium:

After regularly visiting his father, who lives in Brussels, Belgium, including adoring the country’s football surroundings, he decided to travel there. When Amadou Onana moved to Belgium as an 11-year-old, things started to become more serious in his sporting life.

Asides from continuing his education, Onana saw his departure to Belgium as a great opportunity to pursue a football career. After playing the game “more just for fun” in Senegal, he joined Anderlecht’s famed academy system in 2012.

There was an immediate buzz around Amadou’s obvious talent from the moment he got accepted by the Belgian club. To overcome the challenges of his early career, Onana kept a cool head, including keeping his feet on the ground in both good and bad times.

When the young Athlete signed up for the academy of RSC Anderlecht, he was placed in the club’s provincial team of Heysel. He was not part of the main academy team at Neerpede, which was what his family wanted. So after two years of waiting, a frustrated Onana decided to leave Anderlecht’s academy.

The boy, who had just arrived from Senegal two years earlier, joined RWS Bruxelles, a soccer academy not too far from his family home. About a year later, Onana, who still had a complicated start to life with his youth career, moved on again to another academy, S.V. Zulte Waregem.

Amadou Onana Bio – Road to Fame Story:

During his Zulte Waregem days, he had a complicated restart to a new life. First was the fact that Onana, for the first time, differed a physical distance away from his family. The second was the fact that his playing time did not improve while at Zulte Waregem.

Amadou Onana’s sister Melissa, who always takes care of his interests, decided to act. She, a creative video editor, combined the best playing football actions of her brother. Melissa decided to send these videos to several clubs in Belgium and Germany.

Thankfully, it was 1899 Hoffenheim who took the bait. And in the month of July 2017, the club called Amadou Onana for trials which he passed with flying colours. At last, he got the playing time he had wished for, and he went on to stay with the club for three years.

During his youth days with 1899 Hoffenheim, Onana, to the joy of his family, got called to represent the Red Devils (Belgium U17). Indeed, the future was looking promising when he joined the Belgian Under-19 side. While playing for the team, he shone in the Youth League by helping his team reach the semi-finals in April 2019.

Difficult Early Senior Career:

While it was easy graduating from the academy of 1899 Hoffenheim, moving from the club’s reserve team (Hoffenheim II) to the senior team became difficult for the Belgian. With limited prospects of playing in the club’s first team (which had Andrej Kramaric as their star player), Onana decided to choose another destination for his career.

The young aspiring midfielder chose to sign for Hamburger SV – a historic Bundesliga club which played in the German second division (2. Bundesliga). A club which once boasted of having the likes of Son Heung-min, Jérôme Boateng, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

While there, he (in January 2020) signed his first professional contract. When things were going well for Onana, two muscle glitches in his inner thighs and groin suddenly prevented him from playing more football.

What kept him going during those turbulent moments:

According to Onana, via Everton’s website, there is a saying in Wolof (his mother tongue) which resonates with his personality. It reads as; “Lu metti yàggul te ku muñ muuñ.” This adage has the meaning;

“Whatever is painful does not last, and whoever perseveres smiles.”

These words became his best quote which helped him in his difficult early career journey. The Belgian midfield engine has been through a lot of tough times, and it is the above quote that keeps him going.

Amadou Onana Bio – Rising to Fame:

During the 2020-21 season, the Power Midfielder recovered and quickly became a regular starter with Hamburger SV. Onana went on to establish himself as one of the revelations of the historic German club. The meteoric rise achieved made the Belgian transfer-worthy in the watchful eyes of scouts.

Amadou was linked to top clubs across Europe and the UK, like Napoli, Stade Rennes, Lille and Manchester City. On the 5th of August 2021, the French top division team, LOSC Lille, sealed a €12.60m for him. The proud Belgian was happy to join a team where the Legendary Ex-Chelsea star (Eden Hazard) once made his name.

Onana arrived in LOSC Lille following the departure of Boubakary Soumaré to Leicester City. Also, in that 2021/2022 transfer window, the club approved Mike Maignan‘s sale to AC Milan and Jonathan Ikoné to Fiorentina. These footballers, alongside Sven Botman, had won the Ligue 1 trophy for Lille a season before Onana arrived at the club.

In France, the young Belgian played alongside an exciting French team that boasted of having some of the finest youngsters in world football. These names include Timothy Weah (son of George Weah), Jonathan David (Canadian Striker) and Renato Sanches (Portuguese Midfielder).

Under the command of Paulo Fonseca, Amadou Onana helped LOSC Lille to an improved 6th-place finish in Ligue 1. In the following 2022/2023 season, the football Journeyman (who is always lucky with attracting good transfers) joined Everton in a reported €35m deal.

International Team Rise:

Before joining Frank Lampard‘s Everton team, Onana’s rise with Lille earned him a senior Belgian national team call. He was brought in to understudy Axel Witsel, whose duties he would replace in the future.

In the mind of many Belgian soccer fans, they found a 6 foot 4 talent whose body was built in the mould of Marouane Fellaini. Amadou and Charles De Ketelaere were considered the two top talents who were to take over Belgian midfield in the future.

A great performance in his full international debut against the Netherlands on 3 June 2022 was enough reason for Roberto Martínez to include Onana in his 2023 World Cup squad. Onana, alongside Leandro Trossard, were among the most exciting names to make that Qatar squad.

Despite his Belgium team’s defeat against Azzedine Ounahi‘s Morrocan side and a draw to Dominik Livakovic‘s Croatian team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Onana has managed to move on from the disappointment. Moving on to the second half of the 2022/2023  season, he is now focused on helping Everton bring back their glory days. The rest, as we say, is now history.

Amadou Onana Girlfriend?

Boasting an impressive height of 1.92 m (6 feet 4 inches) and a striking, tall presence, it’s undeniable that Amadou Onana would catch the eye of many admirers. Numerous women may aspire to become his wife or the mother of his child. Given the curiosity surrounding his relationship status, we poses this ultimate question to uncover the truth.

Who is Onana Dating?

As of writing Amadou Onana’s biography, the athlete has intentionally kept all information regarding his relationship status under wraps. Perhaps, guided by the advice of his parents and sister (Mélissa), he has chosen to dedicate 100% of his focus on his career, at least for the time being.

Personal Life:

Who is Amadou Ba Zeund Georges Mvom Onana?

Amadou is known for being a cool, handsome, and composed gentleman on and off the football pitch. He consistently makes headlines for his impressive performances and skilful gameplay, never for any off-field controversies.

With a humble nature that sets him apart, Amadou appreciates the simple pleasures in life. He occasionally enjoys visiting a local bar alone, sipping a glass of wine as a way to unwind and find respite from the demands and challenges of his blossoming career.

It’s worth noting that Onana has three passions beyond the realm of football: music, fashion, and podcasts. The year 2022 was considered his most remarkable year thus far, thanks to testament to his accomplishments that year.

At his core, Onana is a compassionate individual. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Everton footballers, such as Jordan Pickford (GK), Conor Coady (CB), and Alex Iwobi, etc., who make an effort to visit the families of their supporters in Merseyside, showcasing their dedication and appreciation to their fanbase.

Amadou Onana Lifestyle:

The Belgian midfielder adores and embraces chilly weather conditions. When it comes to his lifestyle, Onana enjoys taking vacations and stepping away from the football pitch to recharge and explore new environments. Whether it’s bundling up against the cold, Onana values the opportunity to unwind and immerse himself in diverse experiences during his time off.

Does Amadou Onana own a Car?

The Athlete’s casual approach to carrying his luggage through the park (similar to Erik ten Hag) reflects his laid-back and adaptable lifestyle. Judging by the direction he was coming from, it appeared Amadou Onana’s car could be nearby.

Amadou Onana Family Life:

The Belgian midfielder has been through difficult times with different clubs at a time when not many coaches believed in his potential. Fortunately, Onana never lost his motivation, as he continued to believe in himself, including getting positive family support. Now, let’s tell you more about the members of his household.

Amadou Onana Sister:

Mélissa is not just a family member but a vital member of the Athlete’s management team who believed in his dream many years ago. Thanks to Onana’s career, his sister took her first steps as an agent, and she is the main contact person among his management team.

Asides from sharing a close bond with her celebrity brother, our findings about Mélissa reveal she is a cancer survivor. Amadou Onana Sister’s cancer treatment is likely to have ended, and she has (for a long time now) returned to normal.

Amadou Onana Sister appears to have a job related to football management. Mellissa works closely with “Be the Future management”, which is her brother’s agent. Part of her duty is to ensure her brother gets the best out of his contract negotiation.

Amadou Onana Father:

As a resident of Belgium, it was due to his endeavours that his son relocated to the country, ultimately laying the foundation for his football career. Currently, there is minimal information available about Amadou Onana’s father, as he prefers to maintain a private and low-profile lifestyle.

Amadou Onana Mother:

We believe that the challenging days of battling Myasthenia gravis are now behind her. Amadou Onana’s mother serves as an inspiring example of resilience. Today, she now reaps the rewards of her son’s flourishing football career, enjoying the fruits of being a mother to a successful Athlete.

Amadou Onana Grandfather:

The Athlete learned a lot from his maternal grandpa; the values he has and the character he has all come from him. If you hear Onana speak, you will notice that there is a great sense of awareness in his words. Such awareness became even more evident whenever he spoke about setting up charitable foundations to help those in need in Senegal.

Amadou Onana’s grandfather is the key figure who helped him instil those community values needed in the less needy in his native Senegal. As recalled earlier in this Bio, before moving to Belgium at the age of 10, he lived in a home that contained 14 family members, including his maternal grandfather.

Untold Facts:

In the final phase of Amadou Onana’s Bio, we’ll unveil truths you might not know about him. Without further ado, let’s begin.

Why he chose Everton:

There were several factors that influenced Onana’s decision to commit to his long-term future with Everton after being tracked by lots of European clubs in 2022. Onana revealed he listened to his intuition and that his choice for the club came to him easily. In his words;

“Everton has a reputation as a big club and also one that cares about its players. Everything just felt right here upon joining them.

It’s hard to explain why I chose Everton, but I’m a guy who works with his feelings, and I base my decisions on that.

I watched the game between Everton and Crystal Palace last season (2021/2022), and it was just amazing. Although I wasn’t even there, I had goosebumps watching the celebrations of Everton fans as they avoided relegation.”

So here we have it. The celebration of Everton fans after their premier league survival match against Crystal Palace on the 19th of May 2022 inspired Onana to join the club.  That match made him really see the passion The Toffees have for their club.

In case you missed it, watch the unforgettable relegation battle match that had Michael Keane (CB), Richarlison, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the scoresheet. Such family feeling at Goodison Park is what Onana adores.

He is a Polyglot:

Interestingly, Amadou Onana speaks a total of five languages. These languages are his native Wolof, French, English, German and Dutch. The Power Midfielder speaks these languages because he has lived in the countries where they are spoken.

Musician:

As observed from the preamble of Amadou Onana’s Biography, he is a jack of both the football and mucis trade. Onana is someone who, despite being good at his major career, tries to be creative and do other things. He once revealed that he learned the piano on his own, all thanks to watching videos on YouTube.

He has visited many countries:

Amadou is not yet 22 years old at the time of writing, but his international passport already bears the stamp of several countries. He grew up in Dakar but has lived in countries like Belgium, Germany, France and England. Being a football journeyman, like the case of Taiwo Awoniyi, appears to be the Athlete’s culture.

Amadou Onana FIFA:

Asides from his free-kick accuracy and Penalty taking, the Belgian professional footballer lacks absolutely nothing in football below average. Onana’s greatest asset remains his power and Sprint Speed. The direct ball-carrying midfielder is in the mould of Denis Zakaria and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Before we forget, Danilo Pereira, the hardcore Portuguese footballer, should be added to the names.

Amadou Onana Salary:

The five-year contract he signed with Everton on the 9th of August 2022 sees him earning the sum of €6,046,367 or £5,208,000 annually.

How rich is the Belgian Midfielder?

Where Amadou Onana’s parents raised him from age 11 (Brussels, Belgium), the average person earns approximately €52,572 Avg. gross annual salary. Do you know?… such a person would need 9.5 years to make what Onana receives every month with Everton.

Is Amadou Onana related to Andre Onana?

No, André and Amadou are not blood brothers. However, they are related by their Cameroonian origins. The fact that a similarity exists in their surname and occupation may have sparked the curiosity of football fans.

Andre Onana has family origins in Nkol Ngok, a village in the Center Region of Cameroon. On the other hand, Amadou Onana is both of Cameroonian and Senegalese descent (Dakar).

Amadou Onana Religion:

Although the Belgium professional footballer has at the time of writing (March 2023) not disclosed information about his faith to fans. However, while researching, we found that the name “Amadou” is a Francophonic-orthography variant of the Islamic name ‘Ahmad’. This leaves the possibility that Amadou Onana’s religion is Islam.

EndNote:

Amadou is a Belgian national of Senegalese and Cameroonian origins. He spent his childhood years in Dakar alongside a sister who goes by the name Mélissa. Amadou Onana’s Mother is Senegalese, while his Father has his family origins in Cameroon.

About Amadou Onana’s background, research reveals that his sister, Melissa is a cancer survivor. Also, the Athlete’s Mum has once suffered from Myasthenia gravis, which is a rare long-term condition that causes muscle weakness.

Also about the Athlete’s background, he once shared a large house (situated in Dakar) with 14 members of his family living it. Among these persons include Amadou Onana’s brother, sister (Mélissa), mother, aunt, grandparents and cousins.

Football, for the Belgian footballer, began in the streets of the Dakar metropolis, where he played football most evenings with his friends. A start to career began in 2012, a time he moved with his family to Brussels, the city his Dad had lived and worked for a long time.

The Belgian footballer, born to Cameroonian and Senegalese parents, left his city of Dakar, Senegal, for Belgium at the age of 11. Onana’s departure was largely due to the fact that he needed to study as well as pursue his dreams of becoming a professional footballer.

During his early years in Belgium, the Athlete attended Saint-Michel College in Etterbeek. He attended this school while he played for Anderlecht’s academy (the club that raised the likes of Romelu Lukaku). Onana, as discussed in our Bio, went through difficult times with different clubs before he found fame as a professional.

Appreciation Note:

Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Amadou Onana’s Bio. We care about accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver the stories of footballers of Belgian, Senegalese and Cameroonian Family Origins.

Please reach us via comment if you find anything that doesn’t look right in this memoir about the Belgian Footballer who (according to GoodisonNews) is now hungry for titles. Also, we’ll like you to tell us what you think about the career of the 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Towing Athlete.

Asides from our Biogarphy on Amadou Onana, we’ve got other stories that will excite you.  You’ll enjoy the life history of Yannick Carrasco and Orkun Kokcu are exciting to read.