Manchester United academy sensation JJ Gabriel, a 15-year-old attacking talent nicknamed "Kid Messi," has asked the club to cancel his registration, according to The Telegraph, a move that would make him a free agent.
The newspaper reported that Gabriel, whose full name is Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel, filed an official notice this week requesting the immediate cancellation of his registration at United. It described the move as one that left the club stunned and as a situation with almost no precedent.
According to the report, nothing is known of any agreement between Gabriel and another club. But the timing is significant: he turns 16 on October 6, the age at which Premier League clubs can sign players to scholarship deals, with professional contracts available from age 17.
Premier League rules cited by The Telegraph state that the cancellation of a child's registration is only possible with the agreement of all parties involved, meaning the club, the player and his parent or guardian. The rules also state that where no agreement is reached, any of the parties involved can ask the Premier League to issue a binding decision on the request to terminate the registration.
It is not known whether United will stand in Gabriel's way. The club had planned to include the England Under-17 international, who made his debut for that age group in March, in the squad for Wednesday's League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion. It is now unclear whether that will happen.
A generational talent
Gabriel appears to be an enormous talent. Last season he became the youngest-ever winner of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, given annually to United's best young player. Last week he scored three goals against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League.
The day after that match, all references to Manchester United disappeared from the 15-year-old's social media accounts, and this week he came forward with his request to leave.
Ryan Giggs, one of the academy's most celebrated graduates, has described Gabriel as a "generational talent" and compared his development to that of Wayne Rooney. His "Kid Messi" nickname stems from viral clips circulated on social media. A source connected to one of United's rivals told Telegraph Sport that Gabriel leaving would be like Barcelona losing Messi before he ever played for them, calling it a huge event.
Interest from Manchester City, Arsenal and beyond
It is not clear what Gabriel would do next if his registration is cancelled, but The Telegraph noted that Manchester City made a move for him last year. City's football director, Hugo Viana, made wide-ranging efforts to sign the player, and Gabriel had also been linked with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
According to the report, United's history and reputation, along with concern about being shuttled between City's network of partner clubs, ultimately persuaded Gabriel, then 14, to stay at Old Trafford.
From London to the United academy
Gabriel joined United's academy at the age of 11, when his family moved to the Manchester area; he was born in Enfield, in north London. He plays as a striker, left winger and attacking midfielder.
He was promoted to United's under-18 side in the summer of 2025. Across the Premier League and FA Cup last season he played 29 matches, scored 26 goals and added four assists, and was named the league's best young player.
This summer he trained with United's first team and featured in friendlies. He began the new season with the under-21 side and has continued to impress: alongside his hat-trick against Sabah, he has made two appearances in Premier League 2. He scored and set up two goals in the opening match against Ipswich Town, a 5-0 win, and added another goal against Leicester City in a 4-1 victory. A third-round fixture against Manchester City, originally scheduled for September 12, was postponed.
Nike deal and 843,000 followers
Gabriel's Instagram account, on which he has never published a post, has 843,000 followers. Despite being only 15, he already has a sponsorship deal with Nike, which along with a description of himself as an athlete is the only information on his profile. The Telegraph noted that some who know Gabriel describe him as a quiet person who is genuinely only interested in football.
Pressure on United's owners
United's season has begun poorly. The club beat Sabah Baku 4-0 on its return to the Champions League, but has taken only four points from four Premier League matches, and Sunday's derby defeat to Manchester City, 0-1, was overshadowed by a serious refereeing error at Erling Haaland's goal.
The Telegraph described Gabriel's possible departure as a damning indictment of the state of United under co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family, who already face mass protests from supporters and now face another wave of criticism. It said Jason Wilcox, United's director of football, must answer difficult questions about how such a talented young player concluded he would rather pause his career amid uncertainty than remain at the club.
The paper added that speculation and accusations aimed at those around Gabriel are inevitable, but that ultimately the career path he chooses and his future achievements will determine whether such a bold decision was truly in his best interest. For now, JJ Gabriel still appears on Manchester United's official website in the under-18 squad list, among the forwards.
