Manchester United has successfully acquired 16-year-old striker Chido Obi-Martin from Arsenal, outmaneuvering their Premier League competitors. This marks United’s first attacking acquisition from Arsenal since the Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck swap in 2018, following their earlier signing of Robin van Persie for £22.5 million six years prior.
Obi-Martin has already won over United supporters with his outstanding performance in a U16 match against Liverpool in February, where he scored an impressive ten goals. His contribution helped him achieve a season total of 29 goals in 17 league games for Arsenal’s U18 squad, showcasing his combination of speed, power, and precision.
His remarkable performance wasn’t a one-time event; he also scored four goals against Crystal Palace and one against Fulham, with previous tallies including five goals against West Ham and seven against Norwich.
Obi-Martin is set to join Old Trafford, as confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Despite competing offers from German clubs, he chose Manchester United for the advancement opportunities they offered, turning down other bids in favor of a clear path to the first team. Arsenal had hoped to retain him by promising a progression route to their U21 squad, but Obi-Martin preferred the accelerated path United provided. The young talent, who joined Arsenal from Danish club KB in 2022 and represented Denmark in the 2024 UEFA Under-17 Championship qualifiers, will now bring his skills to Manchester United, continuing the club’s pattern of securing top talent from rivals.
