Everything you need to know about Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel.
JJ Gabriel is making a real name for himself at Manchester United. Here is everything you need to know about the young academy sensation.
JJ Gabriel key facts
Full name: Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel
Date of birth: 6/10/2010
Nationality: English – Represented England at youth level
Citizenship: England, Ireland, Cyprus
Position: Striker, winger, secondary striker
JJ Gabriel celebrates, in Man Utd white kit
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Sum up JJ Gabriel in one word…🔥
JJ Gabriel celebrates for Manchester United.
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
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JJ Gabriel’s dad
JJ Gabriel’s dad is Joe O’Cearuill, a former footballer. He was eligible to play for Ireland and Trinidad and Tobago through his parents.
O’Cearuill changed their family name, which is why his son is now known as JJ Gabriel.
During his own playing days, O’Cearuill was in Arsenal’s academy in 2006 and made their first team bench, before signing on loan for Brighton.
He represented Ireland at international level and also played for Barnet, before spending most of his career in non-league and retiring in 2016.
JJ Gabriel is now the youngest ever Man Utd player to score in the FA Youth Cup
Which player does JJ Gabriel remind you of? How good can he become?
JJ Gabriel graphic
Getty Images
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JJ Gabriel’s Ronaldo connection
JJ Gabriel was labelled the ‘next Cristiano Ronaldo’ by sportswear giant Nike, when he was just 14-years-old. But he also shares a connection to the superstar.
Gabriel signed with United’s under-11 side alongside Cristiano Jr, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s son in early 2022, and they played in the academy together.
According to The Athletic, Gabriel has a fondness for another superstar, idolising Brazilian forward Neymar.
JJ Gabriel key milestones
JJ Gabriel made his debut for Manchester United’s under-18s team on April 5 2025, when he was just 14-years-old.
Gabriel’s under-18s debut was memorable, with Manchester United demolishing Leeds 13-1, with Gabriel scoring twice. Marcus Rashford reached out to praise him on social media.
The 2025/26 season has seen Gabriel continue to thrive as a regular for Manchester United’s under-18s.
He scored his first hat-trick for the 18s in a 7-0 win over rivals Liverpool, and his scoring rate has been spectacular.
Gabriel scored on his FA Youth Cup debut on December 9 2025, in a 1-0 win over Peterborough at Old Trafford.
The winning strike saw Gabriel, 15, become the youngest goalscorer on record in United’s FA Youth Cup history.
What’s next for JJ Gabriel
The sky is the limit for JJ Gabriel, but he is ineligible to play for Manchester United’s first team in the Premier League in 2025/26 due to his age. He could potentially play in the FA Cup.
Gabriel trained with Manchester United’s first team in October 2025, with head coach Ruben Amorim taking a keen interest in his development and promising opportunities to impress.
It was claimed by The Mail that Gabriel even trained with United’s first team squad when he was 14, when Erik ten Hag was still manager.
In summer 2025, Gabriel committed to a pre-scholarship agreement with United, temporarily seeing off keen interest from rival clubs.
In December 2025, Gabriel was spotted with legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Red Devils doing everything to ensure the wonderkid feels special, and set him up for greatness.
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