Manchester United have completed the signing of former Arsenal striker Chido Obi-Martin, reports claim.
The Red Devils had looked to wrap up a deal for the prolific teenage forward earlier this summer following his exit from Arsenal, whom he left after his schoolboy terms expired and he rejected the chance to become a scholar - leaving him as a free agent.
However, as recently seen with highly-rated England youth international Rio Ngumoha’s switch to Liverpool after leaving Chelsea, moves that see players go from one Category One academy to another are subject to a rigorous five-step review process by the Premier League.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday that such a process had now concluded successfully, with the Premier League giving their approval to the signing with “positive feedback”.
He added that Obi-Martin could now be formally considered as a Manchester United player, having already agreed personal terms and passed a medical with the club.
His signing will be seen as a significant coup for United, with the 16-year-old having made headlines for his incredible goalscoring exploits at youth level with Arsenal last season.
Obi-Martin notched 10 goals in one game for the Gunners’ Under-16 side in a 14-3 demolition of Liverpool aged just 15 back in October 2023, while in April this year he netted seven for the U18s in a 9-0 thrashing of Norwich.
In total he scored 32 times after being promoted to the U18s last term, including 29 in just his last 11 appearances.
However, he eventually opted not to stay put at Arsenal and chose to join United having also attracted interest from the likes of Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone at Arsenal for the past four years,” Obi-Martin, a Denmark U17 international, wrote on Instagram back in July.
“The experiences and growth I’ve achieved here have been truly invaluable. A special thanks to the coaches, staff, and team-mates at Hale End.
“The memories made will always be remembered. I wish everyone continued success and all the best for the future.”
