Arsenal are among the clubs to be linked with JJ Gabriel after the teenage talent's Manchester United bombshell
JJ Gabriel with Manchester United
JJ Gabriel has plenty of potential suitors after his desire to leave Manchester United came to light(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
View 2 Images
The race to sign Manchester United talent JJ Gabriel is heating up after it emerged that the 15-year-old wants to leave Old Trafford. Arsenal are among the clubs interested in the wonderkid, but one of their former players could play a part in another club winning the race.
Gabriel's father Joe O'Cearuill spent a year at Arsenal early in his career, though he never made a senior first-team appearance. He played international football for Ireland, with reports indicating Gabriel has an Irish passport, which would allow him to move to a European club after he turns 16 in October.
One of the clubs in the mix is Barcelona, with The Telegraph claiming the Catalan club lead the race. The same publication reports that former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny helped show Gabriel around the club, along with former Barca captain Sergio Busquets.
Gabriel has removed references to United from his social media and followed Real Madrid-related accounts. However, Barca are reported to be ahead of Madrid and any Premier League sides.
Poland international goalkeeper Szczesny, 36, joined Arsenal's academy when O'Cearuill was on the club's books. He played 181 times for the Gunners under Arsene Wenger before leaving in 2017 and retired in August 2024 after a spell at Juventus.
However, he was convinced to reverse that retirement just weeks later, with Barca bringing him in after an injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen. He extended his contract in 2025 and made his first appearance of the new season on Wednesday when first-choice keeper Joan Garcia was forced off in the 7-2 victory over Racing Santander.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Wojciech Szczesny with Barcelona
Wojciech Szczesny could be a factor if Gabriel chooses Barcelona(Image: Marco Canoniero/REX/Shutterstock)
View 2 Images
Arsenal have already raided Manchester United this year, with James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye joining from Old Trafford. It comes after Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi both moved in the opposite direction during the 2024/25 season.
If the Gunners want to make the case for Gabriel to join them over Barca, they may want to point to the opportunities they have given to young prodigies. Two of the youngest-ever Premier League debutants, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, made their debuts in the competition while representing the London side.
Dowman scored twice in the midweek Carabao Cup win over Ipswich Town, the first time he has scored more than once in a senior game. Marli Salmon also started just a fortnight after his 17th birthday, with 18-year-olds Ife Ibrahim and Theo Julienne coming off the bench.
"A joy to have him (Dowman), Marli as well, 16-years-old, to play at the level with the physicality that they have to be able to handle that level, it's remarkable," manager Mikel Arteta said. "And Max, yeah, it's inevitable to talk about him when he scores and he creates the moments that he has created tonight - it’s normal.