Why Man United wonderkid JJ Gabriel can’t wear the same training shirt as his teammates
JJ Gabriel is one of Manchester United’s most promising young players, but some rules are holding him back because of his age.
At just 15 years old, Gabriel became the youngest player to appear for United in an unofficial game. He came on as a substitute for nine minutes in the 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid last weekend at the Strawberry Arena.
There’s a lot of excitement around this England youth international. He trained with the first team last season and many believe he’ll soon break through at Old Trafford. Gabriel was the Under-18 Player of the Season last year and helped his team reach the FA Youth Cup final.
Moving up to the first team is the next goal for him, possibly following a path similar to Arsenal’s young star, Max Dowman.
However, it turns out Gabriel can’t wear the same training shirt as the rest of the United squad.
The team recently started using a new kit during pre-season, thanks to a £20 million-a-year deal with Betway. But from the 2026/27 season, Premier League clubs aren’t allowed to have gambling companies as their main shirt sponsors. Some clubs are getting around this by using gambling sponsors only on training shirts.
Since Gabriel is under 18, he isn’t allowed to wear any clothing that shows gambling logos, including training shirts. This rule has affected other young players in the Premier League and Football League before.
Gabriel is expected to get more playing time during United’s pre-season tour, with games coming up against Paris Saint-Germain and Leeds United in Gothenburg and Dublin. But he still can’t sign a professional contract yet. Players can only be offered a pro deal after turning 16, and can only officially sign once they turn 17. Gabriel, nicknamed “Kid Messi” in a popular YouTube video, will turn 17 on October 6, 2027.
Sky Sports legend Martin Tyler talked about Gabriel’s contract on The Joy Of Football podcast, saying Gabriel has a five-year deal that guarantees one or two years as a full-time pro player.
Gabriel also has a long-term boot deal with Nike, which he signed in March 2025 after being with the brand since he was 11.
In another special honor, Gabriel received a trading card made from real 24-carat gold by Topps – only 20 players have gotten one, including Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, and Declan Rice.
Max Dowman, another top English talent and the youngest Premier League winner, signed a pre-contract with Arsenal in January 2026. He stayed a scholar until the first half of the 2026/27 season before signing professional terms on his 17th birthday, December 31.