Europa League: Manchester United confirm 17yo Nigerian striker is ineligible to face Real Sociedad

Through official channels, Manchester United have confirmed that young Nigerian striker Chido Obi will not be available for selection in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash against Real Sociedad, as he is ineligible for the competition. 

Obi, 17, has been making strides in United’s youth setup and was recently promoted to first-team training. 

However, due to UEFA’s squad registration rules, the forward cannot feature in the European campaign.

UEFA regulations require clubs to submit their 'A list' of registered players before the knockout rounds of European competitions. 

Teams can add up to three new players, provided they meet the criteria set by UEFA. 

Despite his potential, Obi was not included in this list, making him ineligible for the tie against Real Sociedad.

Additionally, UEFA’s 'B list' allows clubs to register young, homegrown players who have been with the team for at least two uninterrupted years. 

However, Obi, who only joined Manchester United from Arsenal in October 2024, does not qualify under this rule either.

While Obi will be unavailable, Manchester United have confirmed that both Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven are eligible to be named in the squad. 

Dorgu, a promising full-back, has been included in the Europa League squad despite serving a domestic suspension for a red card in a recent Premier League match. 

His ban does not affect his availability for European competition, meaning he could feature on Thursday.

Ayden Heaven, another young talent, has also been registered and is an option for manager Ruben Amorim. 

The center-back has been developing well and could play a role in United’s defensive setup against Real Sociedad.

Obi’s ineligibility presents a challenge for Amorim, as United have been dealing with a depleted attacking lineup.

With injuries and squad rotations affecting key players, the youngster might have been an option off the bench.

However, the manager will now have to explore other attacking alternatives as United aim for a strong performance in the first leg of their Europa League knockout tie.

Manchester United will face Real Sociedad on Thursday, with the match expected to be a crucial step in their European campaign.

Wale Adejumo

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