Manchester United’s first team is travelling around the USA ahead of a crucial season while their academy side continues to dominate, finding a new talisman in a 14-year-old prodigy.
The youth setup at Man Utd has undergone a lot of changes ahead of the 2025/26 season. From key personnel moving on, like the director of academy Nick Cox, or head coach Adam Lawrence, to many exciting players moving up the ranks, it’s been an upheaval.
Fortunately, the next generation of United talent is equally as good, if not better, and they have a fine voice in Darren Fletcher to coach them.
Fletcher’s biggest task will be handling the development of the club’s prized asset – 14-year-old sensation JJ Gabriel, who is continuing to dominate academy football.
JJ Gabriel scores again for Man Utd U18
When JJ Gabriel signed to stay at Man Utd for at least the next two years, the common assumption was that United had made some promises.
Those promises are coming to fruition, with Gabriel enjoying a large role with the U18s this season despite being just 14.
It has been well-earned, too, with the youngster not looking out of place against players much older and developed than him.
Gabriel started the season by opening his account in the very first game, an 8-2 thrashing of QPR, and he has scored again in United’s win over Swansea.
Gabriel’s father posted the video of his goal, which was a rifled finish past the goalkeeper after picking the ball out wide.
These are still early days for Gabriel, but considering he has already scored for the U18s in a competitive game last season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him play for the U21s by the time he turns 15.
Gabriel has been tipped to break records already, and the record for becoming the youngest debutant at Man Utd will be firmly in his sights.
Man Utd’s academy setup is thriving
It is a testament to the work done by Nick Cox and Nicky Butt before him that Man Utd’s academy is the envy of most of England, if not Europe.
The pipeline of talented players in the age groups is second to none, and after winning three trophies in 2023/24, has only gone from strength to strength.
The likes of Jay McEvoy, Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher, and the Nkouto brothers are some of the highly-rated talents in the next generation alongside JJ Gabriel.
That is in addition to the likes of Shea Lacey, Amir Ibragimov, and more who already impressed for the U18s last season and will be with the U21s.
Ruben Amorim has always given youth a chance, and he can continue to do the same at Old Trafford because United are in a golden age of youth development.
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