Man United make decision on wonderkid JJ Gabriel ahead of the summer
Man United’s talented youngster JJ Gabriel is one of the most exciting emerging prospects in the club’s academy ranks.
JJ Gabriel has been prolific in academy fixtures.(Image: 2026 James Gill – Danehouse)
Manchester United are planning to include talented youngster JJ Gabriel in their pre-season tour squad this summer. United are keen to show Gabriel there is a pathway to the first-team, and taking him on tour would be another show of faith in his huge potential.
Gabriel has scored 21 goals in 23 appearances for the Under-18s this season. He has already trained with the first-team on several occasions, and Michael Carrick described him as a “big talent.”
As recognition of Gabriel’s talent, it’s understood the teenager is expected to form part of United’s tour squad, which will include more academy products than usual due to the World Cup.
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United are set to tour Europe this summer, with talks ongoing to finalise a schedule that includes visits to Scandinavia and other parts of Europe.
Historically, United have earmarked the first week of July as the first week of pre-season training at Carrington. This year the World Cup will run between June 11 and July 19.
Gabriel has not stepped up to Under-21 level this season because he was 14 when the campaign began. United could have been fined for playing Gabriel in the U21 team due to his age at the start of the season, so it was agreed that he would exclusively play U18 football this term.
United are developing Gabriel by playing him in the U18s and promoting him to first-team training on a more regular basis. The talented prospect only celebrated his 15th birthday in October.
Gabriel may already have been included in a senior Premier League matchday squad this season if the rules had been different. Because Gabriel was 14 at the start of the season, he is ineligible to play in the Premier League, although the FA Cup allows teenagers to feature.
But United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton at the first hurdle. Darren Fletcher was in caretaker charge for that game, and he was asked whether Gabriel could be involved during the build-up.
Fletcher smiled, saying: “Well, he could be, but he’s not going to be because obviously anybody could be picked. But JJ is a fantastic talent. I’ve enjoyed working with him immensely, getting to know him.
“He’s a young lad with a massive sort of hype, you know there’s a lot of noise around him and deservedly so because he’s a real talented kid. He works hard. First thing I’d say is he loves football.
“He loves training, he loves playing, he loves having the ball, he loves expressing himself. He makes fantastic decisions. “He’s just got an enthusiasm for the game that’s just amazing.
“15-year-old, a bright future ahead of him. I’m super excited by his talent, but the most important thing is that he keeps developing, and he’s in the U18 team, and he’s doing fantastically well, but he’s still got lots to learn.
“The world is his oyster and he just needs to go on his journey and his time will come in due course. But for just now, it’s a little bit early I think, and I think a lot of people would agree with me.”
United invited Gabriel and his family into the Old Trafford directors’ box to watch the opening game of the season against Arsenal. He was subsequently introduced to Ruben Amorim at Carrington.
The head of United’s academy, Stephen Torpey, recently admitted he was excited by Gabriel, adding: “We have some special talents right now in our groups, and JJ is one of those, for sure.”
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