Chido Obi is ready to step up to Manchester United’s first team.
Young talent Chido Obi scored four goals to lead Manchester United’s under-21 side to a 4-1 victory over Leicester City. It was the latest signal that he is ready for another crack at the first team.
On the night Manchester United’s first team beat Everton 1-0 thanks to a Benjamin Sesko goal, Obi was busy leading a goal glut for the under-21s against Leicester City.
Obi’s goals showed off his all round game, netting his four goals with a ‘perfect’ combination.
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Obi’s goals demonstrated the full range of his finishing, netting a close range header to score the opener.
The second goal saw him receive the ball outside the box with his back to goal, before dribbling past a defender to set up a shot with his left foot, and then unleashing into the far corner.
His third goal was a deft left-footed chip over the goalkeeper after being put through one-v-one, with pressure from a defender at his side.
18-year-old Obi rounded off the fourth goal in stoppage time, scoring a right-footed finish passed into the net, after an explosive show of pace to burst past a defender.
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It was the full repertoire from the teenage striker, who is now making a case to be called up to the Manchester United first team squad.
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Chido Obi playing against Fulham U21
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Rochdale v Manchester United U21 - National League Cup
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Obi’s development in 2025/26
Chido Obi started Manchester United’s first pre-season game, but by the end of the US tour his minutes had diminished. This meant that it was not necessarily surprising that he was omitted for the first league game of the season.
Obi has remained in the academy, making the first team bench only once all season. United decided not to send him out on loan, believing the best development could be done in-house.
The first part of the season was a little rocky for the youngster. He had to split playing time with Gabriele Biancheri, who has now gone out on loan.
Obi has always been a prolific goalscorer, he holds the record at Premier League under-18s level, but this had not necessarily translated to under-21 level, until now.
While Obi has now scored 11 goals for the under-21s this season, only seven had come before the win over Leicester. His contribution had been steady rather than spectacular.
United recently gave him extra game time at under-18s level in the FA Youth Cup, and in the recent derby with City, and this move has helped to bring back his confidence. He impressed with a goal in the win over City and earned praise for his strong all round performance.
Now for the first time, Obi has really dominated a game from start to finish at under-21 level. This was a step United needed him to make. How could he have the confidence to make a splash at first team level if he was playing within himself for the under-21s?
Obi has now made the breakthrough, and it could be significant. There is a case to put him on the bench immediately against Palace for the first team this weekend. Strikers thrive on confidence, we are seeing it right now with Benjamin Sesko. Obi’s self-belief will be sky-high after scoring four goals in a game for the 21s.
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Obi’s call-up and snub under Ruben Amorim
It is one year ago since Ruben Amorim called Chido Obi up to make his debut for Manchester United, in February 16, 2025.
Obi was only 17 at the time. Amorim later admitted that he gave Obi his debut too soon. He told a press conference: “He started too early, and that’s sometimes difficult to manage with young players because they think, ‘I’ve already succeeded.’
“No, you’re there out of necessity, and we also have to be careful about that with young players.”
Amorim’s comments were part of a wider critique of playing academy players, but there was a semblance of truth to them. Obi was not dominating under-21 games a year ago, and was still rushed into the first team. In a handful of first team showings he demonstrated promise – but he did not score.
United made the decision to develop Obi out of the spotlight, and he has had to learn patience, and develop some mental resilience too. Nothing comes easily in football, and Obi may be better off for working in the shadows and refining his game.
He is a better player now than he was 12 months ago. There is still work to do, but he is making progress. Obi has 14 goals in all competitions this season.
At only 18, there are no guarantees any player will succeed at United, but Obi has a strong chance. Next season will likely feature European football, providing greater opportunities for squad rotation. All the hard work Obi is putting in now, will likely pay off. And there is a chance that he gets another chance before this season is done.
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