Danish wonderkid Chido Obi-Martin took a major step in his burgeoning career this week, signing his first professional contract with Manchester United.

Obi-Martin, who joined United from Arsenal in October, has already made an impact in the Under-18s, scoring four goals in four appearances, including a standout hat-trick against Nottingham Forest. His performances have shown why he was highly regarded at Arsenal, where he netted an astonishing 32 goals and provided three assists in just 21 matches for their Under-18s.

Despite Arsenal’s efforts to retain him, Obi-Martin opted for a fresh start, moving to United’s Carrington base. Just eight weeks into his tenure at the club, his professional contract now makes him eligible for first-team action. With United’s senior strikers, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund, struggling for consistency, the youngster has a golden opportunity to stake his claim in Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans.

United’s Under-18s have been in scintillating form this season, sitting atop the league table with a perfect record of nine wins from nine games. They’ve scored 43 goals while conceding just four, underlining their dominance. Following a 3-0 victory over Everton, the team heads into a clash against Stoke City with confidence, and all eyes will be on Obi-Martin to continue his scoring streak.

With Højlund finding form after netting twice against Bodø/Glimt, competition for the center-forward role is intensifying. Furthermore, rumors are swirling about United’s potential pursuit of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres, a player Ruben Amorim knows well.

Yet, Obi-Martin’s prolific youth record demands attention. Should he shine once more against Stoke City, it might not be long before he gets a chance to prove himself at senior level. For now, the young striker’s journey is one to watch as he looks to carve out a path to the top in United’s illustrious ranks.