{{Short description|Danish footballer (born 2007)}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Chido Obi | image = | fullname = Chidozie Obi-Martin<ref name=wf>{{WorldFootball.net|chido-obi-martin}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|11|29|df=y}}<ref name=wf/> | birth_place = Glostrup, Denmark<ref name=wf/> | height = 1.88 m<ref name=wf/> | currentclub = Manchester United | clubnumber = 32 | position = Forward | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2020 | youthclubs1 = Copenhagen | youthyears2 = 2020–2024 | youthclubs2 = Arsenal | youthyears3 = 2024–2025 | youthclubs3 = Manchester United | years1 = 2025– | clubs1 = Manchester United | caps1 = 7 | goals1 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam1 = Denmark U16 | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 4 | nationalyears2 = 2023 | nationalteam2 = England U16 | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2023–2024 | nationalteam3 = Denmark U17 | nationalcaps3 = 19 | nationalgoals3 = 12 | nationalyears4 = 2024 | nationalteam4 = Denmark U18 | nationalcaps4 = 4 | nationalgoals4 = 2 | nationalyears5 = 2025– | nationalteam5 = Denmark U20 | nationalcaps5 = 4 | nationalgoals5 = 2 | nationalyears6 = 2025– | nationalteam6 = Denmark U21 | nationalcaps6 = 2 | nationalgoals6 = 0 | club-update = 08:03, 26 May 2025 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 23:00, 4 September 2025 (UTC) | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}} {{Medal|Country|{{fb|DEN}}}} {{Medal|Comp|UEFA European Under-17 Championship}} {{Medal|B|2024 Cyprus|}} }} '''Chidozie Obi-Martin'''<!-- Do not change the subject's name without including a citation. --> (born 29 November 2007), commonly known as '''Chido Obi''',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Railston |first=Steven |date=14 February 2025 |title=Man United issue Chido Obi update as youngster trains with first team |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-issue-chido-obi-31007621 |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref> is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United.
==Early life== Obi was born in Glostrup, a Copenhagen suburb, to Nigerian parents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 July 2024 |title=Chido Obi-Martin: Who be di Nigerian Arsenal 'wonderkid' wey dey linked to Manchester United? |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c0w40l2g5g3o |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=BBC News Pidgin}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Arsenal=== Obi started his career in Denmark with powerhouse team Copenhagen, often playing up one or two age groups with the 05's and 06's.{{clarify|date=March 2026}} He eventually moved to England when he was 13 because of his mother's new employment, going on to join the academy of Arsenal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/denmark/ekstra-bladet/20220417/281981791132983|title=Britiske storklubber jagtede Danske Chido|trans-title=Big British clubs chased Danish Chido|first=Maya|last=Stoltze|date=17 April 2022|access-date=19 November 2023| via=PressReader |work=Ekstra Bladet|language=da|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=tips>{{cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/var-med-engelsk-u-landshold-nu-vaelger-han-danmark|title=Var med engelsk U-landshold: Nu vælger han Danmark|trans-title=Was with the English U-national team: Now he chooses Denmark |first=Kenneth|last=Jensen|date=23 March 2023|access-date=19 November 2023|website=tipsbladet.dk|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/kaempe-arsenal-talent-har-fck-fortid-doeren-er-aaben|title=Kæmpe Arsenal-talent har FCK-fortid: Døren er åben|trans-title=Huge Arsenal talent has FCK past: The door is open|first=Emil|last=Bellaiche|date=30 April 2024|access-date=8 March 2026|work=Tipsbladet|language=da}}</ref> He progressed through the club's youth ranks, establishing himself as a prolific goal-scorer, and was promoted to the under-18 side at the age of fifteen. In his first start for the under-18 side, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win against Southampton on 23 September 2023, earning comparisons to Nigerian international striker Victor Osimhen in Danish media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/ung-dansker-scorer-hattrick-arsenal|title=Purung dansker går målamok i stor Arsenal-sejr |trans-title=Young Dane goes on a scoring spree in big Arsenal win|first=Mikkel|last=Fuhr Nielsen|date=23 September 2023|access-date=19 November 2023 |website=tipsbladet.dk|language=da}}</ref>
The following month Obi made his first appearance for the club's under-21 side, while still fifteen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://campo.dk/2023/10/30/15-aarig-arsenal-dansker-fik-debut-for-storklubbens-u21-hold/|title=15-årig Arsenal-dansker fik debut for storklubbens U21-hold|trans-title=15-year-old Arsenal Dane made his debut for the big club's U21 team|first=Malthe|last=Bendix Søgaard|date=30 October 2023|access-date=19 November 2023|website=campo.dk|language=da}}</ref> He continued his meteoric rise at Arsenal in early November 2023, being called up by first-team manager Mikel Arteta to join the senior side for training.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/07/arsenal-call-up-15-year-old-wonderkid-to-first-team-training-19790352/|title=Arsenal call up 15-year-old wonderkid to first-team training|date=7 November 2023|access-date=19 November 2023|website=Metro|location=UK}}</ref> Obi made international headlines on 18 November 2023, scoring ten goals as Arsenal beat Liverpool 14–3 at under-16 level.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5074619/2023/11/19/chido-obi-martin-10-goals-arsenal-liverpool/|title=Chido Obi-Martin: Arsenal's 15-year-old who scored 10 against Liverpool Under-16s |first=Sebastian|last=Stafford-Bloor|date=19 November 2023|access-date=19 November 2023|website=theathletic.com|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13011544/chido-obi-martin-arsenal-youth-player-scores-10-goals-for-u16-side-in-14-3-thrashing-of-liverpool |title=Chido Obi-Martin: Arsenal youth player scores 10 goals for U16 side in 14–3 thrashing of Liverpool|date=19 November 2023|access-date=19 November 2023 |website=skysports.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/arsenal-liverpool-chido-obi-martin-28133960|title=Who is Chido Obi-Martin? The Arsenal wonderkid who scored 10 goals against Liverpool|first=Joe|last=Doyle|date=19 November 2023|access-date=19 November 2023|website=football.london}}</ref> On 27 April 2024, Obi made headlines once again, scoring seven goals for Arsenal in their 9–0 win against Norwich City, taking his tally up to 24 goals in his previous seven games for Arsenal's under-18s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/04/27/chido-obi-martin-arsenal-under-18-forward-denmark-england/|title=Arsenal teen sensation Chido Obi Martin, 16, scores seven to continue stunning form|date=27 April 2024|access-date=28 April 2024|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> On 29 July 2024, Obi announced his departure from Arsenal on his Instagram account.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://onefootball.com/de/news/confirmed-arsenal-youngster-announces-exit-with-man-united-heavily-interested-39829189 |title=Confirmed: Arsenal Youngster Announces Exit with Man United Heavily Interested |publisher=OneFootball |date=30 July 2024 }}</ref>
===Manchester United=== Linked with a move to fellow Premier League club Manchester United in the summer of 2024, the deal was concluded at the end of September.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/41624867/chido-obi-martin-confirms-man-united-transfer-arsenal|title=Chido Obi-Martin confirms Man United transfer from Arsenal|date=5 October 2024|access-date=15 October 2024|publisher=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Steven |last=Railston |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-make-decision-chido-30118324|title=Manchester United make decision on Chido Obi-Martin after wonderkid's transfer from Arsenal|date=11 October 2024|access-date=15 October 2024 |work=Manchester Evening News}}</ref> The following month, Obi was named by English newspaper ''The Guardian'' as one of the best players born in 2007 worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Marcus |last1=Christenson |first2=Steven |last2=Bloor |first3=Garry |last3=Blight |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/oct/15/next-generation-2024-60-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football|title=Next Generation 2024: 60 of the best young talents in world football|date=15 October 2024|access-date=15 October 2024 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> On his first start, Obi scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 Under-18s win over Nottingham Forest.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/under-18s-match-summary-man-utd-v-nottingham-forest-26-october-2024 |title=U18s: United v Nottingham Forest |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |date=27 October 2024|accessdate=27 October 2024}}</ref>
Obi was named in a senior squad for the first time on 16 February 2025, making his senior debut as a 90th-minute substitute for Casemiro in a 1–0 league defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.<ref>[https://www.manutd.com/en/matches/matchcenter?matchId=2444718 Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United]. Manchester United F.C.. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/feb/16/tottenham-manchester-united-premier-league-match-report|title=Spurs 1–0 Man Utd: Tottenham hold off Manchester United as Maddison return boosts Postecoglou|last=Aarons|first=Ed|website=The Guardian|date=16 February 2025|access-date=16 February 2025}}</ref> Obi was named in the starting line-up for United's game against Brentford on 4 May, the first senior start of his career; at the age of {{age in years and days|2007|11|29|2025|5|4}}, he became the youngest player to start a Premier League game for United, surpassing Mason Greenwood's previous record of {{age in years and days|2001|10|1|2019|5|12}}.<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Bostock |title=Amorim selects United's youngest Premier League XI |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/ruben-amorim-makes-multiple-changes-to-man-utd-starting-xi-at-brentford-4-may-2025 |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |date=4 May 2025 |accessdate=4 May 2025 }}</ref>
On 30 May 2025, Obi scored his first two senior goals for United in a 3–1 friendly win against Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luckhurst |first=Samuel |date=30 May 2025 |title=What Obi did before and after his winning goal is what Man United need |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/what-chido-obi-before-after-31755418 |access-date=30 May 2025 |website=Manchester Evening News }}</ref>
==International career== Eligible to represent Denmark, Nigeria or England at international level,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0e433dg044o |title=Chido Obi: The 'special' Man Utd academy striker makes debut |website=BBC Sport |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> Obi made five appearances in late 2022 for Denmark's under-16 team, before switching allegiance to England.<ref name="sport">{{cite web |last=Kraglund |first=Christian |date=18 February 2023 |title=England hapser 15-årig dansk angriber for næsen af DBU |trans-title=England grabs 15-year-old Danish striker from DBU |url=https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2023-02-18-england-hapser-15-aarig-dansk-angriber-for-naesen-af-dbu |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=sport.tv2.dk |language=da}}</ref> He represented England twice at under-16 level in February 2023, against Cyprus and Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chido Obi-Martin Internationals |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe901198/chido-obi-martin/international-matches/ |access-date=2 March 2025 |website=worldfootball.net}}</ref> However, in April of the same year he returned to the Danish under-16 team, scoring twice in three appearances.<ref name=tips/> His prolific goal-scoring form earned him a call-up to the Denmark under-17 team, and he started Denmark's 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification campaign with two goals in his first three games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indkast.dk/nyhed/211278/fremtidig-landsholdsstjerne-stort-dansk-arsenal-talent-scoringer|title=Fremtidig landsholdsstjerne? Stort dansk Arsenal-talent med to nye scoringer|trans-title=Future national team star? Great Danish Arsenal talent with two new scores|first=Rasmus|last=Arvad Christensen|date=19 October 2023|access-date=19 November 2023|website=indkast.dk|language=da}}</ref>
Obi made his debut for the Denmark U20s during the 2025 Maurice Revello Tournament. He would score a 96th-minute goal vs Congo U20s to secure a 2–0 win for his country, in their second game of the group stage. He would score his second goal of the tournament in a 3–0 win over Japan before eventually getting knocked out to Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals.
== Career statistics == {{updated|match played 4 November 2025}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Manchester United |2024–25<ref>{{soccerbase season|184987|2024|access-date=26 May 2025}}</ref> |Premier League |7||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- |2025–26<ref name="sb2526">{{soccerbase season|184987|2025|access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !7!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!8!!0 |- |Manchester United U21 |2025–26<ref name="sb2526"/> |colspan="3"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name="EFT"|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||1||3||1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !7||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||3||1||11||1 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Individual''' *UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2024<ref>{{cite web|publisher=UEFA|url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/news/028e-1b135047563c-4d3ee3bd0f3a-1000--2024-team-of-the-tournament/|title=2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament|date=7 June 2024|access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|obi-martin/871014}} * {{DBU player|8559}}
{{Manchester United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obi, Chido}} Category:2007 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Glostrup Municipality Category:Danish men's footballers Category:Denmark men's youth international footballers Category:English men's footballers Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:Danish people of Nigerian descent Category:English people of Nigerian descent Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent Category:English people of Danish descent Category:Danish emigrants to England Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Kjøbenhavns Boldklub players Category:Arsenal F.C. players Category:Manchester United F.C. players Category:21st-century English sportsmen Category:21st-century Danish sportsmen Category:Premier League players Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England