Things to know about the Man Utd prodigy

Nowadays, academy signings are met with great fanfare in the realm of social media.

Football Manager disciples were already familiar with the thrill of recruiting the world’s best wonderkids, but it’s a joy that’s now transferred to the actual game.

Chido-Obi Martin is one of the aforementioned prodigies who has already become a celebrity in Manchester after the Red Devils secured the services of one of the game’s most anticipated young whippersnappers.

Old Trafford has proven to be a fruitful breeding ground for some of the most exceptional talent witnessed in British football over the past half-century and Man Utd supporters will be hoping that Obi-Martin can follow a similar path.

Here’s everything you need to know about the superstar in the making.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Denmark, Obi-Martin moved to England in 2020 at the age of 13. The teenager represented local club KB (Kjobenhavns Boldklub) during his formative years in Denmark and actually moved to the UK with his mother while she pursued a career in nursing.

Obi-Martin and his family were only meant to stay in England for a few years, but those plans were dashed when arsenal signed the youngster on a scholarship in 2022. The 6’2 striker quickly established himself as a prolific goalscorer in north London and even bagged a hat-trick on his under-18 debut with only 15 years

Mikel Arteta was quickly informed of Obi-Martin’s potential and the wonderkid joined Arsenal’s senior squad for a number of training sessions in November 2023. At the same time, he was continuously starring in teams Arsenal youth team, he even scored ten times in a 14-3 win over Liverpool with the under-16s.

However, despite flourishing with the Gunners, 16-year-old Obi-Martin made the decision to leave the capital.

Man Utd completed the stunning signing of Obi-Martin at the start of October 2024, but it had long been known that the striker would be moving to Old Trafford for the next stage of his career. It was a major coup for the Red Devils, who poached the wonderkid from rivals Arsenal.

talking after his signing was officially announced: “I’m very happy to sign with this amazing club, it’s time to focus and achieve all my dreams. Thanks to everyone who helped me get here.”

Man Utd are already aware they have a superstar on their hands. Obi-Martin made his first start for the club’s under-18s on Saturday, October 26 and scored a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes of the 6-0 win against Nottingham Forest.

He scored just 13 seconds after rounding the keeper and slotting home, producing another superb finish four minutes later. He completed his hat-trick from close range in the 14th minute to announce himself to the Man Utd fans in some style.

Considering that Obi-Martin is part Nigerian, it is no surprise that the young striker has been compared to Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. Both are tall and powerful, with a keen eye for goal, and Man Utd would be absolutely delighted if the 16-year-old can replicate what Osimhen has already achieved in his career.

Speaking about Obi-Martin earlier, Denmark Under-17 boss Jesper Mikkelsen offered an insight into the striker, stating: “When you look at Chido, he doesn’t look like someone who hasn’t turned 16 yet. First of all, he has a physique that is really advantageous as a football player.

“He’s big and strong, but he’s also reasonably agile. He’s good at following play, but he’s also really good at challenging and dribbling.”

Obi-Martin has a wide variety of options on the international stage. He is eligible to represent Denmark, Nigeria and England and has already featured for the youth teams of two of those nations.

Starting his international career with Denmark under-16s, scoring four goals in eight games, Obi-Martin also made several appearances for England under-16s. However, he has since returned to Denmark, representing the nation at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

Obi-Martin was named in the Team of the Tournament after scoring two goals in three games as Denmark reached the quarter-finals.

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