Manchester United academy sensation JJ Gabriel will be looking to make a huge impact after the first-team's pre-season plans were announced
JJ Gabriel has seen Manchester United plans for a huge summer confirmed
JJ Gabriel has seen Manchester United plans for a huge summer confirmed(Image: (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))
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JJ Gabriel has seen his summer schedule emerge with Manchester United's pre-season fixtures announced. The 15-year-old has been tearing it up in the academy this season with plans in place for him to join the senior stars across Europe ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
United kick off their pre-season campaign against Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland, on July 18 before heading to Trondheim, Norway, on July 24 with a match against Rosenborg. Atletico Madrid are their next opponents, with that clash to take place in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 1.
A friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg, Sweden, arrives on August 8, with fellow Premier League club Leeds United facing United at Croke Park in Dublin on August 12. Their tour of Europe concludes in Wroclaw, Poland, on August 15, with AC Milan scheduled to be their opponents.
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Gabriel will be hoping to make an impact in the senior set-up, having scored in all of his last six under-18 Premier League games. United's youngsters currently sit second in the standings, only behind their local rivals City on goal difference.
During that period, United also advanced to the under-18 Premier League Cup final with Gabriel on target in their comeback win over West Ham United. With United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in attendance, fellow academy talent Kai Rooney also scored, but he will miss the remainder of the campaign due to injury.
As such, he will not be available for the final later this month against Crystal Palace, with the onus on Gabriel to make an impact.
The latter's displays have also seemingly alerted Michael Carrick, with the interim head coach praising the teenager even though he is unable to use him.
Carrick, who has attended several academy games since taking charge, said in March: "He is not allowed [to be part of a first-team squad on a matchday]. He’s too young. JJ’s doing really well.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Head Coach Michael Carrick of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on February 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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"We’ve got some really good players in the academy and we try and get the younger players up [with the main group] as much as we can."
"We’re always trying to give them that exposure. JJ is a big talent, it is pretty obvious and he has had a good season for U18s. We think an awful lot of him.
"But patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and developing him and picking the right moment to step up, to leave them in a certain place. He’s trained well and it is good to have young players up."