Sports
Manchester United’s Chido Obi – The under-18 record goalscorer who left Arsenal for Old Trafford
Paul Aladejare will never forget the phone call. It was August 2020 and his scouting boss at Arsenal’s academy was ringing, although this time it was not with instructions on which game he was being assigned to.
Arsenal’s head of recruitment from under-12 to under-14 had been given an unusual tip-off that two brothers from Denmark had just emigrated to the UK with their family. The siblings had a good reputation but having never seen them play before, they wanted to check whether they were worth pursuing.
Pairing his role as a regional scouting co-ordinator for Arsenal in London with his work as the founder of CrownPro Elite Academy, Aladejare was asked to include the mystery duo in a showcase game against XYZ Football Academy at Mabley Green in Hackney.
“I saw these two boys walking over to us,” says Aladejare. “I couldn’t believe it. They were both well built but one of them just looked different. He was so leggy and walked with such a swagger. I thought, ‘Who on earth is this?’”
After 20 minutes, Aladejare phoned his Arsenal boss: “You have to get here right now and man-mark this kid’s mum. There are scouts from every club in London asking who he is and where he has come from.”
His name was Chido Obi — his middle name is Martin — and that evening was the final time he walked onto a football pitch without people knowing exactly who he was.
Today, he is one of the brightest prospects in English football and last week became the all-time record goalscorer in the Under-18 Premier League.
Under-18 Premier League’s record scorers (2016-2024)
| Player | Club | Goals | Appearances | Minutes played | Minutes per goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chido Obi |
Man U/Ars |
37 |
23 |
1,682 |
45 |
|
Ellis Simms |
Everton |
36 |
38 |
2,834 |
79 |
|
Folarin Balogun |
Arsenal |
34 |
33 |
2,703 |
80 |
|
Reo Griffiths |
Tottenham |
34 |
34 |
2,783 |
82 |
|
Oakley Cannonier |
Liverpool |
32 |
34 |
2,468 |
77 |
|
Donnell McNeilly |
Chelsea |
32 |
37 |
2,744 |
86 |
|
Victor Akinwale |
Crystal Palace |
32 |
49 |
3,768 |
118 |
|
Mason Greenwood |
Man Utd |
31 |
30 |
2,283 |
74 |
|
Divin Mubama |
West Ham |
30 |
47 |
3,658 |
122 |
|
Charlie McNeill |
Man U/Man City |
29 |
32 |
2,220 |
77 |
Data from Transfermarkt
He broke the record, however, not playing for Arsenal but Manchester United, with whom he signed his first professional contract in October upon turning 17.
On that day in Hackney, east London, four years ago, part of the speculation was about where he was from. Obi has a Nigerian father but Aladejare found his mother on the sideline, who said that he was born and raised in Denmark.
Obi had been playing for Kjobenhavns Boldklub, one of the pre-eminent clubs in Danish football who have served as Copenhagen’s academy feeder system since the club’s creation in 1992. The reason for Chido and his brother Chuck’s relocation was their mother moving to the UK to study to become a nurse.
“His English wasn’t great but he understood football terms,” says Aladejare. “At half-time, I tried to get him to simplify things so said, ‘Run, skill, shoot’.
“He scored four goals. They were all excellent finishes, too. In the final minute, he got the ball wide, went past three players, cut in and curled it into the far corner at top speed as if it was nothing. He was the real deal. But one scout I was chatting to thought he looked OK, wasn’t there technically, so predicted he would become a centre-half. I looked up at the sky and shook my head.”
Obi, who is eligible for England and Nigeria as well as Denmark, joined CrownPro Elite Academy and trained with them for months before being given a two-week trial at Arsenal along with his brother, who was signed at a later date. The paperwork required to confirm the 13-year-old’s move was an onerous endeavour. It took Arsenal over six months to complete and they had to satisfy various Home Office and Football Association criteria to get the deal over the line.
Obi was about 6ft 2in (1.87m) at age 16 and soon became an internet sensation, with highlights of his goals going viral. He scored 32 goals in 18 games for the under-18s despite being years younger. He even racked up 10 against Liverpool at under-16 level. His physical advantage was distinctive and academy coaches know they need to keep in mind that every player’s physical development is different. This is why Arsenal give early developers, such as Obi, a mixed programme, with exposure across different age groups to support their growth.
Obi is a clean clinical finisher who scores different types of goals and at Arsenal he often did extra individual training, improving his general game, including his hold-up play, while balancing studies for his GCSE exams last summer.
Obi signs for Manchester United (Photo: Manchester United)
“I did one-on-one technical sessions with him even when he was at Arsenal,” says Aladejare. “He was like a sponge. He could take 10 shots, bag nine and if he missed one he wanted to start again. He goes again until he gets it right. He used to be a good finisher and now he’s a great finisher. He can still be better in his striking but he’s got quite an unconventional technique. But if it is still ending up in the corner of the net then who cares?”
Despite the north London club bringing him into the academy system from CrownPro, they will not get to enjoy his talent at first-team level after he left for Manchester United this summer following the expiry of his schoolboy terms.
Arsenal made Obi what they felt was a good offer within the boundaries of their wage structure but according to one source familiar with the situation, who wished to remain anonymous to protect relations, Obi believed strongly in the path to the first team at Manchester United given their reputation for promoting youth products.
Obi celebrates a hat-trick for Arsenal U18s v Southampton in 2023 (Photo: David Price/Arsenal FC/Getty Images)
Obi’s arrival was triggered by Luke Fedorenko, United’s head of academy recruitment, who built a good rapport with the player and his family to help progress the move, while director of academy Nick Cox also assisted.
Matt Hargreaves, director of football negotiations, got the deal over the line, while technical director Jason Wilcox, who spent 11 years as Manchester City’s academy director, was also involved. The financial commitment from United was also a factor and he now stands to earn a substantial wage for a youth player after turning 17 last week and signing his first professional contract. Obi shared the news of his deal on social media accompanied by a picture of his younger self in a United shirt.
In October, he marked his debut for United’s under-18s with a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes against Nottingham Forest.
When Obi joined United, before the appointment of Ruben Amorim, the plan was for him to have at least a year of academy football, primarily with the under-18s, and not to rush him. United’s academy are conscious not to overhype young players, especially in their early stages of development. Obi assisted the only goal on his under-21 debut off the bench against Rochdale last night but is yet to train with the first team and there are no immediate plans for integration.
Either way, there are plenty who believe in his potential.
“He believes he is the best player at his age group in the world,” says Aladejare. “That is his mentality.”
Additional reporting: Laurie Whitwell
(Photo: Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Sports
Tiger Woods released from jail after DUI arrest; eyes appear bloodshot in booking photo
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Tiger Woods was released from jail Friday night after he was arrested earlier in the day on a DUI charge following a car crash in Florida.
In a mugshot released hours after his arrest, Woods’ eyes appeared bloodshot, as he donned a blue polo inside the Martin County Jail in Florida.
Woods was seen leaving the jail in the passenger seat of a black SUV after his release on bail late Friday, according to The Associated Press.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed in a news conference that Woods was traveling at “a high rate of speed” when his vehicle collided with another car, resulting in his vehicle rolling over onto the driver’s side.
Tiger Woods was booked into Martin County, Florida, jail on March 27, 2026. (AP)
Authorities said Woods “exemplified signs of impairment.” He blew “triple-zeroes” for alcohol but refused a urine test.
“DUI investigators came to the scene here, and Mr. Woods did exemplify signs of impairment. They did several tests on him. Of course, he did explain the injuries and the surgeries that he had. We did take that into account, but they did do some in-depth roadside tests,” Budensiek added.
“We really weren’t suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case, and that proved to be true at the jail. … But when it came time for us to ask for a urinalysis test, he refused. And, so, he’s been charged with DUI, with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.”
Woods was spotted on the phone after the crash, wearing navy blue shorts.
Woods was charged with DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a test, all misdemeanor charges. No one was injured, authorities said. Woods was alone in the car and crawled out of the passenger door after the crash.
Tiger Woods was driven from the Martin County Jail after being arrested for driving under the influence following a car crash on March 27, 2026, in Stuart, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
VANESSA, KAI TRUMP TAKE IN TIGER WOODS’ RETURN TO GOLF AT TGL FINALS
“This could’ve been a lot worse,” Budensiek noted.
President Donald Trump commented on the arrest of his “very close friend.”
“I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty,” Trump said. “There was an accident, and that’s all I know. Very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person, an amazing man, but some difficulty.”
Woods has not commented on the arrest.
Tiger Woods was arrested on a DUI charge after getting into a car crash on Friday. (Associated Press)
Woods currently is dating Trump’s ex-daughter-in-law, Vanessa, whose daughter, Kai, is set to play college golf in Miami next week.
This is Woods’ second DUI arrest within the last decade. In 2017, he was taken into custody, also in Jupiter Island, after taking prescription drugs and being asleep behind the wheel of a running car at 3 a.m.
In 2021, he got into a wreck that resulted in serious leg injuries that kept him off the golf course for the entire year.
Golfer Tiger Woods stands by his overturned vehicle in Jupiter Island, Fla., Friday, March 27, 2026. (Jason Oteri/AP)
Woods made his return to competitive golf earlier this week in the TGL championship after rupturing his Achilles just before last year’s Masters (this year’s tournament is in less than two weeks). Woods has not appeared on the links since the 2024 PGA Championship, in which he missed the cut.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter
Sports
Lakers beat Nets, but Luka Doncic is facing suspension again after 16th technical
For the second time in less than a week, Luka Doncic faces a one-game suspension because of technical foul accumulation.
Only a week after Doncic’s 16th technical foul was rescinded by the NBA, the Lakers superstar picked up another one in a 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday and is in line to miss the Lakers’ next game against the Washington Wizards on Monday.
In the third quarter with the Lakers trailing by one against the lowly Nets (17-57), Doncic was called for an offensive foul against Nic Claxton as the Lakers (48-26) were trying to inbound the ball after a dunk by Ziaire Williams. After the Lakers turnover, Williams and Doncic appeared to exchange words with Doncic pushing Williams aside with one hand. Williams then flailed his arms behind him and slapped Doncic in the throat.
“He was yelling in my face three times,” said Doncic, who finished with 41 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the win. “I just wanted to get out of there. … I didn’t even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed. My push was exaggerated, which was obviously not [the case].”
Both were assessed technical fouls with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter, and Williams’ hit was reviewed for a possible flagrant, although it was not upgraded.
The NBA requires players to sit out for one game without pay after their 16th technical foul of the season. But Doncic avoided that fate after the NBA rescinded the foul that would have forced him to the bench for a critical road game last week. Lakers coach JJ Redick said the Lakers will try to appeal Doncic’s latest foul but he did not see what happened on the play.
Last week, Doncic avoided a suspension after the NBA rescinded the foul that would have forced him to the bench for a critical road game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons. Doncic is slated to miss Monday’s game against the Wizards, who have lost 17 of their last 18 games and have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference (17-56).
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts to a referee’s call during the second half Friday against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Doncic picked up his first 16th technical foul last week against the Orlando Magic after getting into an argument with Orlando forward Goga Bitadze. Doncic claimed Bitadze directed a vulgar comment about Doncic’s family in Serbian toward the Lakers star guard. Bitadze refuted the story, saying it was actually Doncic who said the curse word out loud first and that he was only repeating what he heard.
The NBA rescinded both fouls upon review the following day.
Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, has scored 30 points or more in 12 consecutive games, the longest such streak in his career. He has 43 30-point games this season, tying Elgin Baylor and Jerry West for sixth-most in a season by a Lakers player. He has scored 40 points or more in the last 12 games.
Against the Nets, Austin Reaves finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists and LeBron James had 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Before the game, Redick said the Nets game would be like playing on the road since the Lakers had spent almost two weeks away from Crypto.com Arena and had returned home in the wee hours of Thursday morning from Indianapolis.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves celebrates after shooting a three-pointer against the Nets in the second half Friday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The challenge was to find the energy to play, which wasn’t a problem for Doncic, who had 24 points in the first half. Doncic was nine for 15 from the field in the first half and four for six from three-point range in 20 minutes. He finished shooting 15 for 25 from the field as the Lakers shot 54% from the floor. They shot 44% (11 for 25) from three-point range.
That the Lakers were facing a Nets team with the second-worst record in the NBA didn’t matter.
That the Lakers were facing a Nets team had lost nine of its last 10 games didn’t matter.
That the Lakers were facing a Nets team that’s last in the league in scoring (106.3 points per game) didn’t matter.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton, left, blocks a shot by Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore in the first half Friday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
What mattered to the Lakers was finding a way to win as the regular season winds down.
“I felt like we were a step slow,” Redick said. “And I told the guys at halftime, ‘This is our seventh game of the road trip. Anytime you come back, there’s a day in between, that’s just you’re in another city until you can get adjusted to the time zone and you get a couple days break.’ So the next two [off] days will be good for us.”
Notes: Lakers broadcast analyst Stu Lantz missed Friday night’s game against the Nets because of health issues. Derek Fisher, who won five NBA titles with the Lakers, took over Lantz’s role for the game. Public address announcer Lawrence Tanter also missed the game because of a health matter. Jason Barquero filled in for Lantz. “The entire Lakers organization is wishing Lawrence all the best in his recovery, and we look forward to welcoming him back soon,” the team said in a statement.
Sports
Tiger Woods involved in rollover crash in Florida less than 2 weeks before Masters: reports
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Tiger Woods was involved in a car crash on Jupiter Island in Florida on Friday, according to multiple reports.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office told ESPN that the crash happened on Jupiter Island. Woods’ condition was not immediately known.
Woods competed in the TGL championship earlier this week with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, and her daughter, Kai, in the stands. It was his return to competitive golf after rupturing his Achilles last year, just ahead of the Masters.
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club looks on before the match against the Los Angeles Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 23, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Adam Glanzman/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
The 15-time major winner, five of which have come at Augusta, was noncommittal about playing at this year’s Masters. President Donald Trump said on “The Five” on Thursday that he would be at Augusta but not play.
Woods has had trouble behind the wheel in the past. In 2021, he got into a wreck that resulted in serious leg injuries that kept him off the golf course for months.
This is a breaking story. Check back for more updates.
-
Detroit, MI1 week agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Youth’ Twitter review: Ken Karunaas impresses audiences; Suraj Venjaramoodu adds charm; music wins praise | – The Times of India
-
Sports7 days agoIOC addresses execution of 19-year-old Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi
-
New Mexico6 days agoClovis shooting leaves one dead, four injured
-
Business1 week agoDisney’s new CEO says his focus is on storytelling and creativity
-
Technology6 days agoYouTube job scam text: How to spot it fast
-
Tennessee5 days agoTennessee Police Investigating Alleged Assault Involving ‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson
-
Texas1 week agoHow to buy Houston vs. Texas A&M 2026 March Madness tickets