Willem II agree deal to sign Chido Obi

Deadline day always seems to save its final twists for the clubs still working the phones long after most of Europe has gone quiet.

Manchester United’s own business technically closed on Tuesday, but a handful of smaller markets across the continent remain open for a little while longer yet.

The Netherlands is one of them, with Dutch clubs given until midnight today to finalise their own late business.

That extra window has proven significant for one of United’s academy graduates still searching for a route into regular senior football.

Feyenoord and FC Koln had both previously been credited with loan interest in him earlier in the summer, before talks with a different Eredivisie club accelerated rapidly over the past 48 hours.

The transfer of Chido Obi to Willem II is drawing ever closer, with the clubs having reached agreement on a loan deal, as reported by Voetbal International.

Talks between the two parties were already at an advanced stage when news of Willem II’s interest first broke on Tuesday, and the Tilburg club has since pressed ahead, with only the medical examination and final formalities left to complete before the move is confirmed.

Chido Obi joined United from Arsenal’s academy a year ago, and the comparisons to a fellow Scandinavian striker have followed him ever since given his languid running style and clean technical profile.

Willem II know that story better than most, having themselves loaned Alexander Isak from Borussia Dortmund back in 2019, when the young Swede spent half a season in Tilburg before going on to become one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards.

Obi broke into United’s first team under Ruben Amorim during the 2024/25 season, making seven Premier League appearances and one in the FA Cup.

He became United’s youngest-ever Premier League starter in the process, handed his full debut against Brentford at just 17 years and 156 days old.

That breakthrough never quite translated into sustained first-team involvement last season, with Obi restricted entirely to youth football, where he still managed an impressive 20 goals in 37 appearances for the Under-18s and Under-21s combined.

He was left out of United’s Under-21 squad this week amid the growing prospect of a move, a clear sign that talks with Willem II had reached their final stages.

Willem II themselves were only promoted back to the Eredivisie last season and currently sit with one draw and two defeats from their opening three fixtures, leaving them in need of goals as they fight to preserve their top-flight status.

The Dutch transfer window closes at midnight local time on Wednesday, giving both parties limited time left to complete the formalities before Obi’s temporary move is confirmed.