England step up their quest for Arsenal teenager of Nigerian extraction Chidozie Obi

ENGLISH Football Association officials have stepped up their quest to secure the services of Nigeria-eligible teenage midfielder Chidozie Obi as the three-way fight for his services intensifies.

Obi, 15, was born in the Danish town of Glostrup, making him eligible to play for Denmark, Nigeria and England. A creative midfielder currently playing for the Arsenal youth side, Obi, has received his first call-up to the Young Lions ahead of the Uefa Development Tournament in Cyprus taking place from February 19 to 26.

Until his recent call-up, the Danish Football Association in the driving seat for Obi, having invited him to an U15 national team training camp and capped him at U16 level. However, Denmark now faces competition from England and if selected, Obi could end up facing his country of birth next Sunday.

Obi has already agreed a scholarship deal at Arsenal ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and has made two appearances in the U18 Premier League as a schoolboy.  Another player of Nigerian descent with an Arsenal connection, Femi Fapetu, who is now at Manchester City, has also been named in the England U16 squad for the Uefa Development Tournament.