Manchester United loan Chido Obi to Willem II as teenager seeks Eredivisie minutes

Manchester United are set to loan teenage forward Chido Obi to Eredivisie side Willem II for the 2026/27 season, with Dutch outlet Voetbal International reporting a deal is close to being finalised before the Netherlands transfer window closes on 2 September.

Obi, 18, joined United from Arsenal’s Hale End academy in 2024 alongside Ayden Heaven, with both players seeking a clearer route to first-team football. Despite earning a Premier League debut under Ruben Amorim in February 2025 and becoming the youngest player to start a top-flight game for United — at 17 years and 156 days, against Brentford — he has managed just seven Premier League appearances in total.

The path to regular minutes at Old Trafford is a steep one. Obi is competing for a forward berth against the club’s £200m attacking trio of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, leaving loan football the most logical next step in his development.

Earlier reports had linked Feyenoord with an interest in the youngster, but it now appears Willem II, based in Tilburg, will be his destination. The club were promoted from the Eerste Divisie last season and are yet to win in three Eredivisie matches this term.

Obi first attracted widespread attention while still at Arsenal, scoring 10 goals in a 14-3 under-16 victory against Liverpool at the age of 15. He has since represented Denmark at youth level.

Manchester United value Obi highly and are understood to prefer a loan arrangement, though they would consider a permanent sale if a suitable offer arrived. Transfermarkt currently values the forward at €5m.