Feyenoord in talks to sign Manchester United teenager Chido Obi in €5m deal

Feyenoord are in talks to sign Manchester United forward Chido Obi, with Dutch outlet De Telegraaf reporting that the Rotterdam club are pursuing a loan move for the 18-year-old this summer. United, however, have set a price tag of €5 million — a figure that matches Obi’s valuation on Transfermarkt — suggesting a permanent exit remains on the table if the right offer arrives.

The report describes the move as “surprising” given Feyenoord’s existing options in attack, which include Ayase Ueda, Ignacio Ferri and Shaqueel van Persie. Nevertheless, the Eredivisie side are pressing ahead with negotiations, with a loan their preferred structure.

Obi first attracted widespread attention while at Arsenal’s Hale End academy, where he scored 10 goals in a 14-3 under-16 victory over Liverpool at the age of 15. The Danish teenager made the unexpected switch to Manchester United in 2024, alongside Ayden Heaven, with the promise of a clearer pathway to first-team football.

That pathway proved narrower than anticipated. Ruben Amorim handed Obi his Premier League debut in February 2025, and the forward became United’s youngest-ever Premier League starter when he was named in the XI against Brentford at 17 years and 156 days. But he managed only seven Premier League appearances in total, and did not feature once for the first team last season following the arrivals of Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha.

Obi has said Amorim urged him to “be humble” and wait for his chance. The appointment of Michael Carrick as manager may yet change the calculus — Carrick attended an academy game within weeks of taking charge, a visible contrast to Amorim, who was reported to have not watched a single academy match during his tenure at Old Trafford.

FourFourTwo understands that United still hold Obi in high regard and would prefer to send him out on loan rather than sell outright, though the club would not rule out a permanent transfer at the right price. United return to Premier League action against Ipswich Town next weekend.