Record-breaking Man Utd teenager’s strengths, weaknesses & career so far

The English academy system is home to few talents as exciting as 17-year-old Manchester United striker Chido Obi.

The towering teenager has shattered goalscoring records at youth level but opted to walk away from Arsenal at the end of the 2023/24 season in favour of taking his talents to United, where his blistering record in front of goal has only continued to grow.

Having made his senior debut for Ruben Amorim’s side in the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, Obi’s career continues to go from strength to strength. Here’s a closer look at the teenager threatening to take Old Trafford by storm.

Born in Denmark to Nigerian parents, Obi’s football journey began on a family holiday to the African nation when he was just six years old. The youngster’s talent was spotted by a local, who simply pleaded with Obi’s father, Prince, to look into formal training for him when they returned to Denmark. Obi turned up for a session with KB, who gleefully offered him the chance to strut his stuff.

“He was quiet off the field, but loud on the field,” coach Soren Nielsen told OldTrafford.dk. “He spoke with his feet. That was his language, that was where he felt comfortable.”

Obi’s parents decided to move the family to England, and a tip-off was made to Arsenal’s youth scouting network that a potential future star was looking for a new club in London. Obi caught the eye after just 20 minutes in a trial game.

Regional scout Paul Aladejare recalled his conversation with the club in an interview with The Athletic.

“You have to get here right now and man-mark this kid’s mum,” Aladejare told those in charge at Arsenal. “There are scouts from every club in London asking who he is and where he has come from.”

Obi eventually signed on at Arsenal and wasted very little time making himself known. He became the Gunners’ record goalscorer at Under-18 level when he was just 16 years old, with a ten-goal haul against Liverpool seeing him go viral on social media.

The offer of professional terms was made, but Obi declined the terms on the table and instead trusted the pathway presented by United, for whom he scored 12 goals in nine games before being handed his first-team debut.

Billed at 6’2, Obi stands out at academy level because of his advanced physique. He is simply too big, too strong and too powerful for youth level and has routinely made mincemeat of players older than him who are still growing into their frames.

However, Obi is far more than a flat-track bully. While his physicality undoubtedly helps his cause, those who have watched the young striker note an uncanny ability to both find space and put the ball in the back of the net.

“His greatest skill is that he scores a lot of goals,” Denmark youth manager Morten Eskesen told Tipsbladet. “If you saw some of the goals at the European Championship… he is a really good finisher and at positioning himself so that he is free to do so.

“He is also good at one-on-one. He is good at running deep to get into free positions. His finishing skills are what allows him to score so many goals. One is getting to the chances – number two is scoring. He is above average there, and that is what makes him so interesting.”

Those goalscoring exploits also caught the eye of Jack Wilshere, Obi’s Under-18 manager at Arsenal.

“Chido has always had a knack for finding the net, but what impresses me most is his willingness to learn and develop,” Wilshere said of the youngster.

As is common with players whose advanced physicality help them at academy level, questions have been asked about how Obi will adjust once he is no longer an anomaly against senior professionals who can match his height and power.

While that will undoubtedly weaken one aspect of his game, there is significant confidence that Obi has built up a devastating skill-set that will continue to elevate him to new heights in the senior game.

“I’ve always thought, ‘he’ll be caught up at some point’,” Nielsen continued. “But he doesn’t. He’s never been caught up in any year groups. He’s always scored goals.”

There have been questions about Obi’s mentality during games. Some who have watched him cite a temperament which can bubble over if things do not go his way, although it must be stressed that is a common concern among young players still maturing both in life and in football.

“Although he is sometimes critical of some aspects of his game, his influence on the team has been great,” Wilshere reflected.

Aladejare also highlighted an “unconventional” ball-striking technique but wisely concluded: “If it is still ending up in the corner of the net then who cares?”

Obi is eligible to represent Denmark, Nigeria and England. He turned out for England’s Under-16 side in February 2023, shortly after his 15th birthday, but has dedicated the vast majority of his youth football to Denmark, and that stance is unlikely to change going forwards.

“I was born in Denmark, I have better friends in Denmark and I’m just really happy to play for Denmark,” Obi told Bold in March 2024.

“My dream is to win big things, I have dreamed for a long time of winning the European Championship or World Cup with Denmark, so that would be great.”

Quizzed directly on whether he could make a return to the England setup, Obi concluded: “I hope to be able to play for the Danish national team for a long time, so I hope it’s just Denmark.”

Even before his move to United, Obi named fellow Denmark international Rasmus Hojlund as a player who has helped inspire his journey so far.

“I like Rasmus Hojlund,” Obi reflected. “He is strong and powerful, so you can learn a lot from him.

“He is left-footed, I am right-footed, but we can both score goals.”

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