Chido Obi: What's the latest on Man United's teenage sensation?

Chido Obi's development at Manchester United is moving in the right direction, according to the club's Under-21s head coach Adam Lawrence.

The forward had a stunning 2023-24 campaign for Arsenal Under-18s, scoring 32 goals in 18 appearances, including 28 goals in his final nine appearances of the season, and he made a high-profile move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2024 after turning down the chance to sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Obi featured on eight occasions for Man United's first team in 2024-25, including seven outings in the Premier League, but he dropped back down to the Under-21s for the 2025-26 campaign.

The 18-year-old was on the bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League at the end of December but has not featured for the senior side this season.

Obi has scored nine goals in 16 Premier League 2 appearances this season, while he has three goals in three appearances in the FA Youth Cup, with the Red Devils chasing success in the competition this term.

Obi has not featured for Man United's first team this season

The forward will be looking to finish the season strongly for the Under-21s and Under-18s with a view to breaking back into the first team next term.

Lawrence has revealed that Obi's development is very much on track.

"Chido has real quality and potential and is in a really good place," Lawrence told reporters. "He's benefited from routine, rhythm and a settled programme. He's got the same people working with him and similar groups of players.

"Of late, he's had more training opportunities with the first team. The good thing for him to understand is that's off the back of how he's been training and performing at academy level as opposed to them [doing it out of] necessity.

"Chido loves football. Naturally, with any player, when you've had that first-team exposure and then you're not around it as often, it's going to have an impact. There will be that bit of disappointment or frustration. He deserves credit for approaching it in the right way.

Obi has impressed for Man United's Under-18s, Under-21s this season

"That was a setback because in the two or three weeks previous to that, he looked really good - Chido at his best.

"At Leicester, he looked a level above the game. Before that, for the under-18s at Manchester City, through his pressing and leading the line, he looked like a proper player.

"It was a conscious decision at the start of the season for Chido to concentrate his development in the academy environment. The club were right to do what they did in the window just gone, for Chido to stay in the building.

"When a coach is tough on players or they spend more time with them, it means that they really believe in them.

"There are times where you're going to be really supportive and put your arm around them and there's others where you give them a nudge and they need to stand on their own two feet.

"Chido has a group of coaches who believe in his potential and are working hard to help him fulfil it. Obviously, the player must turn up every day hungry to improve.

"We're pushing Chido and challenging him. He has a great programme of games ahead of him and ultimately his level of progression and performance will dictate what happens in the summer."

There is expected to be loan interest in Obi again this summer, and Man United will face a major decision when it comes to the teenager's future at the end of the season.