Manchester United are being linked with a sensation youth swoop on Arsenal wonderkid Chido Obi-Martin.
A now deleted tweet via @academyscoop claimed Chido Obi-Martin has visited Carrington this week as he weighs up a move to Manchester United. And now The Athletic have backed this up with Obi-Martin deciding to leave Arsenal.
A deal with United is not yet in place – but it looks to be moving in a positive direction. Obi-Martin scored 10 goals in one match against Liverpool’s under-16s last season, a team Manchester United’s title winning side also beat 9-1, in addition to him netting 32 goals in all competitions.
Despite this, Arsenal have failed to tie the Denmark youth international to a new contract, and he could make the switch to Manchester United.
Obi-Martin is also eligible to play for England, making a switch for the 16-year-old possible. If he does join Manchester United, he will join a team blessed with exciting talent at all levels from the first team and through the academy – even if he could potentially become the best one of all.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee
Manchester United currently have two first team strikers, Rasmus Hojlund and new signing Joshua Zirkzee.
Hojlund is only 21 while Zirkzee is 23. United hope to build around both players long-term, with Hojlund finishing as the team’s top goalscorer with 16 goals in 2023/24.
You could even throw Marcus Rashford into the mix – he will hope to get close to his 30-goal finish of 2022/23 as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.
Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Williams and Gabriele Biancheri
Last season’s under-18s stars, Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Williams and Gabriele Biancheri have all started playing at under-21 level too.
Wheatley, 18, made his first team debut earlier in 2024, becoming the club’s 250th academy graduate. He scored 23 goals last season at all levels.
Williams, 18, who plays more of a wide forward similar to Marcus Rashford, managed to score 17 goals in all competitions.
Not far behind is Biancheri, 17, who signed from Cardiff City in 2023. He scored 12 goals for the under-18s last season, and should get more chances next season with Wheatley moving up to the 21s more regularly.
United also have young forwards Victor Musa and Sekou Kaba in the mix, who will look to try and make a name for themselves over the coming campaign.
Amir Ibragimov
One emerging academy star there are very high hopes for is Amir Ibragimov, who made his under-18s debut at just 14.
Ibragimov, 16, has even made his under-21s debut too, but has been used rarely. Next season he will step up as a regular for the 18s, and his progress is one to keep track of.
Silva Mexes, Camron M’Pofu, Kai Rooney
Manchester United have added two youth starlets to the club this summer, signing Silva Mexes and Camron M’Pofu.
It could be a couple of years before they feature in the under-18s, yet both are England youth internationals.
Throw in Wayne Rooney’s son too, Kai Rooney, who is tearing it up at youth level, and United look incredibly well stocked for the future.
Not all of the players listed above may make it to the first team, that’s the nature of youth development, some do, and some don’t, but United’s options are clearly plentiful.
Add Chido Obi-Martin to the mix, and it reaches another level. But even without him, United will be just fine.
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