Chido Obi has become the youngest Manchester United player to start a Premier League match after he was named in Ruben Amorim's line-up for their 4-3 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday.
At 17 years and 156 days old, he is younger than Mason Greenwood was -- 17 years and 233 days -- when the former United forward started the team's 2-0 home defeat to Cardiff City in 2019.
"We need to focus a lot on our young players. For me, it is not a massive game for Chido. I know it's important for Chido, but I don't want a lot of pressure on Chido," Amorim told Sky Sports ahead of the game.
"He played really well in the minutes against Wolverhampton. I feel he is ready to cope with the demands of the Premier League."
Youngest players to have started a Premier League match
| Player | Team | Age | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Baxter | EVE | 16y 198d | 2008-09 |
| Reece Oxford | WHU | 16y 236d | 2015-16 |
| Wayne Rooney | EVE | 16y 297d | 2002-03 |
| Neil Finn | WHU | 17y 003d | 1996-97 |
| Jonathan Leko | WBA | 17y 006d | 2015-16 |
With an average age of 22 years and 270 days, United's starting XI was the third-youngest any side has named in Premier League history. Amorim's team rank only behind Middlesbrough's team against Fulham in May 2006 (20 years and 181 days) and Arsenal's line-up for a clash with Portsmouth in May 2009 (22 years and 237 days).
The Denmark youth international joined United in October after he decided against signing a professional contract with Arsenal, who he had joined at the age of 14.
Chido Obi made his full Premier League debut on Sunday. Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesObi's arrival at Old Trafford was seen as a coup for the club after he famously scored 10 goals against Liverpool in a 14-3 win for the under-16s, and he scored 32 goals in 18 games for Arsenal's U18s last season against players typically two or three years his senior.
The forward had made five appearances off the bench for United this season and impressed during a 52-minute appearance against Fulham in the FA Cup in March. He is still searching for his first senior goal.
Obi has not played a part in United run to the Europa League semifinals as he is ineligible to play for the club in this year's competition.
United added other players to their Europa League squad ahead of Obi for the knockout rounds, which began with their round-of-16 victory over Real Sociedad.
Obi was overlooked, a source told ESPN, because he was not considered a first-team player at the time.
Manchester United starting XI to face Brentford:
Altay Bayindir, Patrick Dorgu, Matthijs de Ligt, Tyler Fredricson, Luke Shaw, Harry Amass, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho, Chido Obi.
Information from ESPN's Global Sports Research contributed to this report