Top News

Evening Standard

·24 July 2026

Evening Standard

·24 July 2026

Teenager may be set for his first senior minutes under Michael Carrick

Manchester United are well known for developing players through their academy, but JJ Gabriel is a little different.

He has already pushed his way into the first-team picture at Old Trafford, and at such a young age too.

The striker, who was born and brought up in Enfield, London, spent time in the youth systems of Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham before moving to the north-west in 2022.

At only nine years old, he went viral on YouTube and was dubbed the ‘Kid Messi’ in 2019.

Now, he has been included in Michael Carrick’s travelling squad for United’s pre-season friendly against Rosenborg, which is being played today at Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim, Norway.

If he is given minutes against the Norwegian side, it would be the first senior appearance of his career.

That possibility is very much alive, with United’s only recognised senior striker in the squad being Dutchman Joshua Zirkzee.

First-choice No9 Benjamin Sesko is still recovering from a shin issue that ended his campaign last season early, while Chido Obi is the other option to lead the line.

The teenage prodigy is only 15 years old.

Born on October 6 2010, he played for United’s Under-18 side at the age of 14, becoming the youngest player ever to do so.

Gabriel scored twice on his debut against Leeds, and in October last year he was called up to train with the first-team squad under Ruben Amorim.

He then scored in the FA Youth Cup in December against Peterborough at Old Trafford, and by the end of the campaign he was named the Under-18s’ player of the season.

Since then, he has played for England’s Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 teams, though he is also eligible to represent Ireland, Cyprus and Trinidad and Tobago through his paternal grandmother, his Cypriot mother and his Trinidadian grandfather.

Red Bull New York IICrown Legacy FCWatch

Kickers OffenbachBayer LeverkusenWatch

Inter Miami CF IIToronto FC IIWatch

Chattanooga FCPhiladelphia Union IIWatch

Carolina Core FCChicago Fire FC IIWatch

North TexasLos Angeles Football Club 2Watch

Ventura County FCSan Jose Earthquakes IIWatch