JJ Gabriel of Manchester United U18 celebrates scoring their first goal during the FA Youth Cup between Manchester United U18 v Peterborough United U18 at Old Trafford on December 09, 2025 in Manchester, England.placeholder image
JJ Gabriel of Manchester United U18 celebrates scoring their first goal during the FA Youth Cup between Manchester United U18 v Peterborough United U18 at Old Trafford on December 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
Manchester United minority Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been keen to find the best young players in world football - and the Red Devils might just have one
Manchester United have always had a proud record of producing top-level players from their academy - and the next big name is starting to emerge.
The most famous clutch of United academy players are the Class of ‘92 who won a plethora of trophies under Sir Alex Ferguson, and set the bar for the rest of English football for what can be achieved by focusing on young talent.
Gabriel has also made 12 appearances in the Under-18s Premier League, and he’s managed to score an impressive 10 goals in those 12 matches. He has done this despite playing three years above his age level. He was involved on Saturday as United’s youngsters dramatically beat Stoke City 2-1.
Ruben Amorim is a big fan of JJ Gabriel
Ruben Amorim recently met with the United youth star, according to the Manchester Evening News. The Red Devils’ boss eagerness to meet with Gabriel and discuss the important of hard work clearly highlights how the United manager already values the young star.
The same report from the MEN notes that “those who have coached Gabriel believe he could shatter plenty of other records during his career.”
He has already spent time training with the first team but cannot make his debut until next campaign but he is currently on course to become the club’s youngest debutant. He does not turn 16 until next October so is free to play for the senior team from the 2026-27 campaign.
Angel Gomes currently holds the record for the youngest debutant at United, as he played against Crystal Palace in May 2017 at the age of 16, eight months and 20 days. Gabriel is the youngest Man United player to be playing in the FA Youth Cup, aged 15 years and two months - he hasn’t even done his GCSEs yet.
JJ Gabriel could be the next Wayne Rooney
One player that Gabriel could be compared too and break the records off is Wayne Rooney. The former Everton man came through the academy at the Toffees but is a Manchester United legend in his own right.
He is the Red Devils’ record goalscorer with 253 goals - sitting above greats like Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best.
According to BBC Sport, Gabriel is known by several other big clubs too, many of whom would love to take him off United’s hands and snap him up before he’s ready to take the step into first-team football.
It is understood that Barcelona are big admirers of Gabriel, and despite the 15-year-old committing his future to Carrington, the links with the La Liga giants remain as Gabriel continues to deliver at the highest level.
United have not had a legendary goalscorer in their squad since Rooney left with several strikers coming into the club but failing to make the grade or not reaching the level of Rooney in his pomp. It might be a few years away yet, but Gabriel could finally be the replacement United have been searching for since Rooney left the club.
Speaking about his desire to sign the next Kylian Mbappe, Sir Jim Ratcliffe said last year: “I would rather sign the next Mbappe rather than spend a fortune buying success.
"It’s not that clever buying Mbappe. Anyone could figure that one out. More challenging is to find the next Mbappe or next Bellingham or next Roy Keane.”
Maybe Gabriel is the answer.
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