Fifteen-year-old JJ Gabriel set for Man United pre-season debut against AC Milan

Manchester United’s 15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel is in line to make his senior debut during the club’s pre-season tour of mainland Europe this summer, with a friendly against AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland on 15 August among the fixtures he could feature in.

Gabriel was ineligible to appear for the first team last season because he was 14 when the campaign began, but that restriction no longer applies. After scoring 21 goals in 23 games for United’s under-18s, he has been included in the pre-season tour squad as the club looks to demonstrate a clear pathway to the first team.

United’s programme opens against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July — the day before the World Cup final — before a trip to face Rosenborg in Trondheim, Norway the following Friday. Two fixtures in Sweden follow: a Snapdragon Cup clash with Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August and a meeting with European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on 8 August. United then face Leeds in Dublin on 12 August before rounding off pre-season against Milan three days later.

Gabriel is expected to feature prominently in the earlier friendlies at least, with United’s World Cup players not returning to the squad until later in the tour. The Premier League season itself starts a week later than usual to accommodate the tournament.

Manager Michael Carrick had already flagged Gabriel’s potential, inviting him to train with the first team during the 2025-26 campaign. “JJ is a big talent, it is pretty obvious and he has had a good season for the U18s,” Carrick said in March. “We think an awful lot of him. But patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and developing him and picking the right moment to step up.”

Director of football Jason Wilcox described the tour as strong preparation for the 2026-27 season. “These matches will provide a valuable opportunity to connect with our incredible fans across Europe,” Wilcox said. “Their support will be vital as we build momentum.”

Should Gabriel impress during the early fixtures, the door to a Premier League appearance — which would make him one of the youngest players in the competition’s history — could open as early as next season.