Why JJ Gabriel hasn’t signed with Man Utd yet, even after playing his first game vs Atletico Madrid
Even though JJ Gabriel has made his debut for Manchester United, he can’t officially sign his first professional contract with the club yet.
At just 15 years old, JJ is already one of the most exciting young players in football. A viral YouTube video even nicknamed him ‘Kid Messi.’ His talent has been clear for a while—he scored twice in his first game with United’s U18 team against Leeds United in April 2025. Last season, he was named Player of the Season in the U18 Premier League and helped United reach the FA Youth Cup final.
With all the buzz around him, people are eager to see him step up to the first team. Darren Fletcher, the U18s head coach, said in January, “I can’t say enough good things about JJ. He has an amazing family and great support. We’re so happy to have him here. There’s a lot of hype around him, and it’s well deserved because he’s truly talented.”
JJ got the chance to show his skills on Saturday when he came on as a substitute in United’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid, playing for nine minutes. Defender Leny Yoro, who joined United for £52 million when he was 18, praised JJ’s humility and hard work, knowing how much pressure young stars face.
Many clubs around Europe know how good JJ is. Barcelona has even been mentioned as a possible future club if he wants to develop elsewhere.
Right now, JJ is training with the first team and on their pre-season tour, but he hasn’t signed a professional contract yet. But there’s no need to worry—for Manchester United fans, at least. Premier League rules say kids can’t sign professional contracts until they’re 17.
Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler talked about this on The Joy Of Football podcast with Neil Barnett. Tyler said, “JJ Gabriel’s situation is getting a lot of attention. He has a five-year offer that includes one or two guaranteed years as a pro.” Barnett added, “You can’t sign a pro contract until you’re 17. So at 15, he’s been promised a three-year deal starting when he turns 17. That’s normal nowadays.”
Other teenagers have made waves in the Premier League before. Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman both debuted for Arsenal at 15, and Rio Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer ever at 16.
Barnett explained, “If a club wants to keep a player in their academy, it’s normal to offer a three-year contract at 17, even if he doesn’t end up making it to the top.”