Chido Obi Joins Willem II on Loan from Manchester United

The window had officially slammed shut in England, but Manchester United still found room for one last piece of business.

United have confirmed that 18-year-old forward Chido Obi has agreed a season-long loan move to Dutch side Willem II, with the deal subject to registration. The move was completed after the English deadline, taking advantage of the extra time available to clubs in the Netherlands, where the window remained open until midnight on Wednesday.

In England, the cut-off came at 11pm on Tuesday. Twenty-four hours later, United were still shaping their squad.

Obi, who made his senior debut for United in February 2025 against Tottenham, has eight first-team appearances to his name. Last season he operated primarily with the Under-21s, where he delivered the kind of numbers that demand attention: 15 goals in 31 games. Willem II now get the chance to harness that potential, while United get a clearer look at how he copes with senior football over a full campaign.

It is another step in what has become a sweeping summer reshuffle of United’s academy ranks.

Jack Moorhouse also headed out on loan on deadline day, agreeing a temporary switch to Dundee, with his move confirmed on Wednesday evening. He follows a growing list of academy prospects sent out to gain experience, among them Ethan Wheatley, Jacob Devaney and Jayce Fitzgerald.

The clear-out has not been limited to loans. United have cashed in on several academy graduates, using the market to turn potential into hard numbers on the balance sheet. Toby Collyer ended his Old Trafford stay with a move to West Brom in a deal that could rise to £7.6million. Promising goalkeeper Radek Vitek departed for promotion-chasing Middlesbrough, a transfer that may eventually be worth up to £14m.

In total, 26 players have left United this summer, either permanently or on loan. The volume underlines the scale of the reset. The club had targeted even greater income from sales, but once again found it difficult to move on those considered surplus to requirements.

So Obi’s late switch to Willem II is more than a footnote after the deadline. It is another sign of a club trying to thin out the logjam, sharpen its pathway, and decide which of its youngsters will shape the next era at Old Trafford—and which will have to prove their worth elsewhere.