Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel attracting interest from top European clubs
Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel attracting interest from top European clubs. Skip to content Transfer JJ Gabriel transfer news: Man Utd wonderkid attracting interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich and Premier League clubs JJ Gabriel wants to leave Manchester United; the 15-year-old has requested that his registration be cancelled to become a free agent; Gabriel wanted to be involved in first-team squads; United's hierarchy will keep trying to convince Gabriel to stay while he is still registered with them By Dharmesh Sheth and Danyal Khan Thursday 17 September 2026 14:21, UK Image: JJ Gabriel was part of Man Utd's first-team squad at times during pre-season Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, along with several Premier League clubs, are interested in Manchester United forward JJ Gabriel.
What happened
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, along with several Premier League clubs, are interested in Manchester United forward JJ Gabriel. Image gallerySkip image galleryImage source, The GuardianImage source, Daily TelegraphImage source, Daily ExpressImage source, Daily Star1 of 4Previous imageNext imageSlide 1 of 4, The Guardian back page, End of image galleryPublished16 September 2026Arsenal received loan offers for Max Dowman, Luke Shaw could leave Manchester United next summer, and Sturm Graz teenager Luca Weinhandl attracting interest from multiple Premier League clubs.
But the biggest clubs around the Premier League and the rest of Europe will all be monitoring the situation with Gabriel as it evolves. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, JJ Gabriel has told Manchester United he wants to leaveBySami Mokbel, Senior football correspondent and Simon Stone, Manchester United reporterPublished7 hours agoReal Madrid are among the clubs trying to sign Manchester United academy player JJ Gabriel. However, as Gabriel has an EU passport, it is possible he will be allowed to join a club within European Union borders on his 16th birthday.
Gabriel and his team feel United had ample opportunities to involve him more in pre-season and in first-team squads since the season started, including in the Champions League. Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺United's hierarchy will keep trying to convince Gabriel to stay while he is still registered with them.
The wider picture
However, it is understood Gabriel has made up his mind and, as far as he's concerned, has played his last game for the club. Gabriel turns 16 on October 6 and cannot sign a scholarship agreement until then, or a professional contract until he turns 17. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Dan Khan updates Sky Sports on 15-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel's decision to leave Manchester United Premier League rules state that a youth registration can only be cancelled if the club, player and parent or carer agree.
Conversations now with Gabriel's team and his family will be key, and it will be up to Man Utd chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and academy director Stephen Torpey to attempt to de-escalate the situation. In the last 12 months, Gabriel met former United head coach Ruben Amorim in his office as a first step towards the first team, followed by a meeting not too soon after with Sir Alex Ferguson. Gabriel then trained with the first team last season and was part of Carrick's pre-season squad at times this summer as well, making his debut against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm last month.
However, Gabriel has started this season incredibly well. Gabriel became the youngest winner of United's Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award last season after scoring more than 20 goals for the U18s.
What has been reported
Carrick: We have to be careful with Gabriel situation Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Michael Carrick has urged care in the handling of Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel, after the 15-year-old requested to leave the club earlier this week Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick has asked for Gabriel's welfare to be protected amid the doubts over the teenager's future at the club. "Merson: Massive blow if Gabriel leaves Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sky Sports' Paul Merson says the likes of teenage sensations Max Dowman at Arsenal and JJ Gabriel, who's asked to leave Manchester United, need to be patient as they look to build their careers Sky Sports' Paul Merson: "First of all, he's an unbelievable talent.
League One Luton Town approached Arsenal on multiple occasions regarding a loan deal for 16-year-old English attacker Max Dowman. (Talksport), externalLuke Shaw could leave Manchester United next summer, with no indication of contract discussions between the club and the 31-year-old England defender at present. (Mail – subscription required), externalHowever, German midfielder Noah Ajayi, 17, is close to signing his first professional contract with Manchester United. (Sky Sports), externalArsenal, Brighton, and Aston Villa are all monitoring 17-year-old Austrian midfielder Luca Weinhandl, who could be available from Sturm Graz for around £17m. (CaughtOffside), externalLiverpool are considering a January move for 22-year-old Monaco and Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara, who missed out on a deadline-day move to Chelsea. (Football Insider), externalTottenham are the latest club to be linked to Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, with the 33-year-old available as a free agent after leaving Galatasaray in July. (Calciomercato – in Italian), externalArsenal are monitoring 25-year-old Real Madrid winger Rodrygo's recovery from injury, having previously expressed interest in the Brazilian over the summer. (Teamtalk), externalEnglish striker Vincent Joseph has confirmed his departure from Liverpool, with the 16-year-old expected to join Arsenal. (Standard), externalLeeds United will not rush into turning Eintracht Frankfurt forward Jean-Matteo Bahoya's loan into a permanent deal.
7m. (Football Insider), externalFormer Manchester United and France forward Anthony Martial, 30, is set to join La Liga side Malaga as a free agent. (Footmercato – in Spanish), externalRelated topicsFootballPremier LeagueEuropean FootballMore on this story'Rangers agree £800,000 potential fee for Penrice' – Scottish gossipPublished5 hours agoGet the latest on your Premier League teamPublished8 JuneAll your football quizzes in one placeListen to the latest Football Daily podcast It is understood a number of major teams across Europe, including Barcelona, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich, have a firm interest in the forward, but multiple sources have described Real's efforts to sign him as strong.
Sources close to Gabriel, who turns 16 on 6 October, feel let down by United, arguing promises around the pathway to the first team have not been kept. The club say it was anticipated Gabriel would become their youngest senior player by playing in Wednesday night's EFL Cup tie with Brighton. United have not given up hope of keeping Gabriel, though they are unsure precisely why he wants to leave.
What happens next
Published22 hours agoFigure caption, We've got to be really careful – CarrickSpeaking after the Brighton game, head coach Michael Carrick, who gave the youngster his senior debut during the pre-season match with Atletico Madrid in Stockholm said everyone needed to be mindful of Gabriel's age. "Sources close to Gabriel have dismissed concerns over the player's age and physicality and feel the likes of Max Dowman, who made his debut for Arsenal at the age of 15 last season, show a willingness to trust youth in a way they do not see at United.
Chelsea are also believed to have a major interest in the teenager. Any imminent move away from Old Trafford for Gabriel is complicated because of rules regarding the registration of young players. United say Gabriel's registration runs to the end of the season. The 15-year-old has made it clear he wants to leave Man Utd and has asked to be deregistered immediately to become a free agent. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Man Utd news & transfers🔴Man Utd fixtures & scores | FREE Man Utd highlights▶️Got Sky?
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across skysports.com, bbc.co.uk. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.