Man United act quickly with academy changes less than 24 hours after JJ Gabriel news breaks
Less than a day after JJ Gabriel asked to leave Manchester United, three of the club’s young players have signed professional contracts.
JJ Gabriel, 15, was set to become United’s youngest-ever player when he was expected to play in their Carabao Cup game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday. But now, that’s unlikely since he asked to cancel his registration immediately.
Gabriel, who won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award for 2025/26 after scoring more than 20 goals for United’s development team, has caught the eye of some big clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea won’t be able to sign Gabriel because of a nine-month academy transfer ban and a £750,000 fine they got in March for issues with player registrations between 2019 and 2022. That’s probably a relief for many at Old Trafford, though it doesn’t make losing such a promising talent, often called ‘Kid Messi,’ any easier.
Gabriel hopes to have his contract ended soon so he can join a club abroad once he turns 16 on October 6. While United prepare to say goodbye to this young star, three other youngsters have chosen to stay and commit their futures to the club.
On Man United’s official website, they announced that Dante Plunkett, Fred Heath, and Will Murdock have all signed professional contracts. According to BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, Plunkett, a talented left-back, has also got a Jamaican passport.
Plunkett was born in Birmingham and could have played for England’s youth teams, but he seems to have chosen to represent Jamaica, his parents’ country. He got his first call-up in May and was part of the Jamaican squad for the Unity Cup final against Nigeria.
Although he didn’t play in that match, which Jamaica lost 3-0, Plunkett hopes to become an important player for his national team soon.
He joined the Manchester United academy in July 2024 after moving from Aston Villa and has become an important player for the under-18s. Mainly a left-back but also able to play on the wing, Plunkett has scored twice and made five assists in 32 games for the side.
In February 2025, he got invited to train with United’s first team for the first time, showing just how quickly he’s been improving since his move.
Plunkett will turn 19 on October 9 and is aiming to step up to the under-21s soon, pushing himself closer to more international chances.
His contract signing along with Heath and Murdock shows that United are still focused on building for the future. Both Heath and Murdock look very promising too.
Goalkeeper Fred Heath was part of the senior squad that traveled to Ireland during pre-season and now plays with the under-21s alongside Murdock. Will Murdock, who signed his second pro contract, has played for Northern Ireland’s Under-19s and appeared in a recent 4-1 win over Leicester City in Premier League 2. He was also a regular in goal last season, including the playoff final against Brighton.
Overall, while United say goodbye to one young star, they’re excited about the future with these three talents committing to the club.