JJ Gabriel Named in Manchester United Senior Squad for Rosenborg Friendly

Fifteen-year-old forward JJ Gabriel has been named in Manchester United's senior squad for the first time for Friday's friendly against Rosenborg.

The youngster, who won both the Premier League and United's Under-18 awards last season despite only being 14 when the campaign began, is part of Michael Carrick's 25-man travelling party for the pre-season friendly in Trondheim.

Gabriel, who doesn't turn 16 until October, is the only change to the squad that was beaten 1-0 by Wrexham in Finland last week with striker Ethan Wheatley dropping out.

It means there is no place for 18-year-old Tynan Thompson, who has joined from Tottenham in an £8m deal. Striker Benjamin Sesko, goalkeeper Karl Darlow and defender Matthijs de Ligt are all ruled out due to injury.

It had been expected Gabriel would play some part in United's pre-season this summer given the progress the Londoner has made through the club's youth system.

But should the winger feature in Norway to make his first senior appearance for the club, it will be the latest milestone in the teenager's career.

Manchester United travelling squad: Tom Heaton, Radek Vitek, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Andrey Santos, Bryan Mbeumo, Chido Obi, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Harry Amass, Toby Collyer, Dan Gore, Dermot Mee, Shea Lacey, Ethan Williams, Jaydan Kamason, Jacob Devaney, Jim Thwaites, Dan Armer, JJ Gabriel.

One of the most talked about young players in England's academy system, director of football Jason Wilcox was personally involved in persuading Gabriel to remain at United last summer.

It is part of a concerted effort to bring promising young talents to the Old Trafford club, which Thompson's arrival from Tottenham is part of.

Gabriel first came to notice outside United circles in April 2025.

Striker Victor Musa scored six times as United beat Leeds 13-1 in a lopsided Premier Under 18 League encounter.

But neither the score, nor Musa's double hat-trick was the main talking point that day – it was a 25-minute cameo from Gabriel on his debut, then aged just 14 and a half.

Pace, balance and control were already evident. He also scored twice to show he has an eye for goal.

He built on that early promise last season. For most of the campaign he seemed destined to finish as the league's top scorer, only for Manchester City's Teddie Lamb to pip him in the final couple of games.

Gabriel was a stand-out performer last term, scoring 29 times in 32 appearances for the Red Devils, helping the them to reach the FA Youth Cup and Premier League Under-18 cup finals.

He was initially called up for first-team training by Ruben Amorim and has been a regular since, with Carrick keeping a close eye on United's academy teams.

Gabriel was not involved in last week's defeat by Wrexham in Helsinki as he had returned to training less than a week earlier, but United are carefully handling a precocious talent.

The teenager was invited into the directors' box on a number of occasions last season and met with Sir Alex Ferguson following a draw against West Ham at Old Trafford in December.

Such access is not commonplace, which underlines how much promise United see in the youngster.

For context, Gabriel is just about to enter his GCSE year. He played – and scored - in last season's FA Youth Cup at a younger age than legendary Manchester United figures such as Duncan Edwards and Eddie Colman from the Busby Babes and also Ryan Giggs.

Of course, there have been plenty of talented young players – Arsenal's Max Dowman is a current example. Not all fulfil their potential.

What offers additional hope around Gabriel is his size.

He has made such a significant impact despite his slight frame. United's coaching staff moved him inside from his preferred position cutting in from the left last season to keep him away from full backs who were bigger and stronger and could try and muscle him out of the way.

There was a belief Gabriel would grow this summer and judging by his social media feed, he has been working on that.

Having decided to target the youth market to offer the best chance of future success, it would be counterproductive to hold back someone already in their ranks, so Gabriel's call-up for Norway makes perfect sense.

If Gabriel features in Norway he will be one of the youngest players ever to play a senior game. The youngest player to feature in a competitive match for United is David Gaskell, a goalkeeper who made his debut when he was 16 years and 19 days. Gabriel will not be 16 until 6 October.

Not everyone in Carrick's squad is guaranteed to play.

United took 25 men to Helsinki for the defeat by Wrexham. Even though Carrick picked completely different teams for each half, goalkeeper Dermot Mee, midfielder Jim Thwaites and striker Chido Obi were not used.

But if he gets a chance, it will be instructive for United's coaches to see how he copes with senior opponents. That will determine Gabriel's future games programme as United's World Cup players begin to return.