Why Chido Obi can't play for Man Utd in Europa League | OneFootball

Manchester United fans will have to wait a few days to see more of teenage forward Chido Obi, with the 17-year-old ineligible to feature in this week's Europa League clash with Real Sociedad.

Obi, the teenage prodigy plucked from Arsenal’s academy in October when he was still only 16, has apeared in three of United's last four games against Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Fulham.

The Denmark youth international played 52 minutes against the latter after replacing Rasmus Hojlund, with the FA Cup tie going to extra-time, and fans on social media have increasingly been clamouring to see the youngster start as his compatriot’s struggles continue.

But even with Thursday's last 16 first leg against Real Sociedad a potentially prime opportunity, Obi cannot play in the Europa League this season.

The striker is not registered for the competition, with the deadline for mid-season squad alterations having passed in early February. So while January signings Patrick Dorgu, another Dane, and Ayden Heaven, a former Arsenal colleague of Obi, were included, he was not.

Chido Obi played 52 minuts against Fulham on Sunday / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

Typically, young players aged 21 or under can be named on a more fluid 'B' list, but only if they have been at their club for two years, which Obi has not given his relatively recent arrival. He could be on the 'B' list in future seasons, from 2026/27, but now he needs an 'A' list space.

At the time United had to register any changes, Obi was yet to make his first-team debut, nor had he been included in a first-team matchday squad. It was only in the second half of January that he was promoted from Under-18 level to the Under-21 squad, so there is an element of sudden-ness in his recent rise, albeit having long had a teen prodigy label attached to him.

Amad Diallo's season-ending injury also directly coincided with Obi getting his chance against Spurs. The Ivorian had been arguably United's best player in the first half of the season, taking to Ruben Amorim's tactical system quicker than anyone else and thriving. But his absence, combined with Marcus Rashford's January departure two weeks earlier, left a gaping hole in the attack.