Medical arranged, with Manchester United to complete astonishing hijack of agreed-upon Arsenal transaction. Two more sources have confirmed Manchester United are about to pull off an almighty coup by signing a player Arsenal had agreed a deal with.
Manchester United is poised to make a significant acquisition by signing a player previously set to join Arsenal, according to multiple sources. This isn’t the first time United has demonstrated its influence in the transfer market; earlier this window, they secured the signature of center-back Leny Yoro, a player who had been eager to join Real Madrid. United managed to sway the 18-year-old Frenchman with a compelling offer, including higher wages.
Under the guidance of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United has shown an uncharacteristic urgency and decisiveness in their transfer dealings this summer. The club has successfully concluded deals for Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, marking a new approach to their recruitment strategy.
Arsenal, meanwhile, has also been active, triggering a £27 million option to buy goalkeeper David Raya. The Gunners strengthened their already formidable defense by acquiring Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for £42 million. Additionally, they have reached personal terms with Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, though the specifics of that deal, including Arsenal’s verbal offer, remain under wraps.
Today’s spotlight, however, is on Chido Obi-Martin, a 16-year-old striker known for his remarkable feat of scoring 10 goals in an Under-16 match against Liverpool. Obi-Martin is set to leave Arsenal’s academy and join Manchester United, despite having more lucrative offers from German clubs. Noted transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed this development, indicating that the young talent will soon undergo a medical examination.
Sky Sports reporters Dharmesh Sheth and Adrian Kajumba provided further details, revealing that Obi-Martin had previously agreed to a deal with Arsenal before deciding to join Manchester United. The switch is notable not only because of the financial aspect but also due to the promise of a quicker path to first-team football at United. Obi-Martin is expected to be positioned as the club’s third-choice striker behind Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Despite his youth, there’s a possibility that Obi-Martin will make his senior debut for Manchester United during the 2024/25 season. Initially, he will refine his skills within the club’s youth setup, where his goal-scoring prowess—32 goals in 20 matches at the Under-18 level last season—will be closely watched.
