JJ Gabriel has been included in Manchester United’s official team photo for the 2026-27 season despite the teenage forward’s ongoing efforts to leave the club.
The 16-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, appeared in the photograph released by United on Monday alongside the club’s men’s and women’s teams.
The picture was reportedly taken on 8 September, just two days before Gabriel played his final game for United and informed the club of his intention to leave.
United still hold Gabriel’s registration and have reportedly made several attempts to resolve the situation, with sources close to the club saying those efforts formed part of their duty of care towards the youngster.
However, there has been no indication of a reconciliation, and it is now considered highly likely that Gabriel’s next involvement in a competitive match involving United will come against them as an opposition player.
Several of Europe’s biggest clubs have already shown interest in the teenager, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among those monitoring his situation. Gabriel also now holds a European Union passport, which could make a move to a European club easier.
No club has formally approached Manchester United so far, but the Premier League giants would consider legal action if evidence emerged of an illegal inducement involving a club or agent in breach of regulations governing young players.
Why Gabriel decided to leave Manchester United
Sources indicated that tensions between Gabriel’s camp and United had been building for several months, but his decision to seek an exit was ultimately triggered by his omission from Michael Carrick’s squad for the Champions League meeting with Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on 10 September.
Gabriel’s representatives had wanted him to be involved as a substitute, believing the fixture presented a strong opportunity for him to make his competitive debut.
United subsequently indicated that there was also a possibility of Gabriel featuring against Brighton in the EFL Cup on 16 September.
However, the forward had already informed the club of his intention to leave by the time that match arrived and had left the country.
Gabriel could not have played against Sabah because he was not included on United’s UEFA A list when the squad was announced on 3 September.
The decision became a particular source of frustration because United went on to beat Sabah 4-0, while Carrick used all five substitutes by the 72nd minute.
Gabriel instead scored a hat-trick for United’s Under-18 side against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League earlier that day at Leigh Sports Village.
United believe they supported Gabriel’s development
Manchester United maintain that they regarded Gabriel as a major part of their long-term first-team plans.
The youngster joined the club in 2025 and quickly attracted attention after being promoted into senior training sessions under Ruben Amorim despite being only 14.
His performances at youth level continued to fuel expectations that he would make an early breakthrough.
Gabriel eventually made his senior debut during pre-season against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August, replacing Bryan Mbeumo for the final eight minutes.
That proved to be his only senior appearance.
He remained an unused substitute against Leeds and AC Milan, despite United making numerous changes during the matches.
Gabriel had also been left out of the squad for the friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki, while doubts about his physical development continued to influence United’s decision-making.
The forward ended the 2025-26 season as the Premier League’s Under-18 Player of the Year and also received the same award at Manchester United.
United have pointed to the support given to Gabriel as evidence of their commitment, including meetings with senior coaches and nutritionists. The club also lobbied the Premier League to allow him to use “JJ Gabriel” on the back of his shirt.
His inclusion in the official first-team photograph has similarly been viewed internally as evidence that United wanted to integrate him into the senior setup.
Gabriel’s full name is Joseph Junior Andreou O’Cearuill, although he is reported to have adopted JJ Gabriel for commercial purposes.
Gabriel now training in Spain
Gabriel is currently in Spain, where he is working full-time with highly regarded coach Jack Hunter.
The pair have worked together since the summer of 2025, with Hunter understood to have played an important role in Gabriel’s development during his breakthrough 2025-26 campaign.
A final decision on the teenager’s future is not expected for several weeks, leaving Manchester United closely monitoring the situation.
The club believes it did everything possible to support Gabriel and prevent his departure, while those close to the player have a different assessment of how his development was handled.
For now, Gabriel remains registered with United, but with some of Europe’s biggest clubs watching closely, his future at Old Trafford appears increasingly uncertain.
