Former Arsenal prospect Chido Obi-Martin made a stunning impact with Manchester United’s Under-18s, scoring a hat-trick just 14 minutes into his first start on Saturday.
The talented striker wasted no time, opening the scoring a mere 16 seconds after kickoff against Nottingham Forest, with additional goals coming in the fifth and 14th minutes.
Obi-Martin had made his United debut just a week earlier as a substitute against Sunderland. Despite being offered a scholarship contract by Arsenal, he chose to move to Manchester United, seeking new development opportunities and aligning his path with United’s ambitions for him.
Chido Obi-Martin bagged a hat-trick inside the first 15 minutes of his United debut! 🤌✨#MUFC || #MUAcademy
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 26, 2024
Advertisement
Latest Press Conference
We’re on Social Media
In the match against Forest, Obi-Martin displayed impressive composure in front of goal and an instinctive sense of positioning that kept him in the right place at the right time. Known for his prolific scoring, he made a name for himself at Arsenal by netting an incredible 32 goals in just 20 appearances for their Under-18 squad, setting a new single-season record previously held by Folarin Balogun.
During his time with Arsenal, Obi-Martin also played for their Under-19 and Under-21 teams and had the opportunity to train with the first team. His standout moments included scoring ten goals in one Under-16s match against Liverpool, a seven-goal performance with the Under-18s against Norwich, and a five-goal match against West Ham.
Obi-Martin’s transfer to United took over two months to complete, waiting for Premier League clearance, but he is now primed to make his mark. Despite offers from abroad with potentially higher earnings, he was swayed by United’s project and the club’s long-term plans for his career growth.
Born in Glostrup, Obi-Martin currently represents Denmark at the Under-18 level, though he also previously played for England’s Under-16s.
