Jean Onana leaves Besiktas as Cameroon midfielder becomes a free agent

Cameroon midfielder Jean Onana has left Besiktas and is now without a club, ending his time with the Turkish side after three years. The 26-year-old defensive midfielder’s departure was completed on 25 August 2026.

Onana joined Besiktas from Lens in July 2023 after the Istanbul club paid €4.04m for his services. He subsequently spent time away from the club on loan, first joining Marseille in January 2024 before moving to Genoa during the 2024-25 season.

The midfielder returned to Besiktas at the end of both loan spells. His second period with Genoa began in September 2025 and concluded on 30 June 2026, when he returned to the Turkish club before departing two months later.

Onana was part of the Besiktas squad that won the Turkish Super Cup in the 2024-25 season. The trophy remains the major honour recorded during his time with the club.

Born in Yaounde on 8 January 2000, Onana stands 1.89m tall and operates primarily in defensive midfield. He is right-footed and had a listed market value of €1m at the time of his departure.

Before joining Besiktas, Onana spent the 2022-23 season with Lens, having moved there from Girondins de Bordeaux for €4m. His earlier career included spells with Lille, Mouscron, Leixoes Under-23s, Leixoes Under-19s and Nkufo Academy.

His final recent loan spell at Genoa ended without a recorded permanent move, and he returned to Besiktas for the start of the 2026-27 campaign. He did not make an appearance for Besiktas in the Super Lig or Europa League qualifying before leaving the club.

Onana has now completed his departure from Besiktas and is officially without a club.