JJ Gabriel
English footballer (born 2010)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel (born 6 October 2010), commonly known as JJ Gabriel is an English footballer who plays as a forward for the academy of Manchester United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Junior Joseph Andreou O'Cearuill | ||
| Date of birth | 6 October 2010 | ||
| Place of birth | Enfield, England | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester United | ||
| Number | 95 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2022– | Manchester United | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025 | England U15 | 6 | (0) |
| 2025 | England U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2026– | England U17 | 2 | (0) |
| ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15:17, 31 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Early life
Gabriel was born to Joe O'Cearuill and a Cypriot mother. He grew up in London and developed his skills at top academies including Chelsea, Arsenal, and West Ham’s.[1] By age nine, Gabriel gained widespread attention after a viral YouTube video earned him the nickname “Kid Messi”.[2] In March 2025, he signed a long-term sponsorship deal with Nike.[3]
Club career
On 5 April 2025, 14-year-old JJ Gabriel became youngest-ever player to play for Manchester United’s U18 team, scoring twice on his debut in U18 Premier League against Leeds United.[4][5]
Prior to the 2025–26 season, JJ Gabriel was given a shirt number 95[6] and was permitted to train with the first team of Manchester United.[7][8] In October, the fifteen-year-old player took part in first team training.[9] On 9 December 2025, he scored in the FA Youth Cup match against Peterborough United at Old Trafford.[10][11] On the 12th May 2026, JJ received the U18’s premier league player of the season despite still only being fifteen years old.
International career
Gabriel made his England U15 debut in February 2025.[12]
In August 2025, JJ Gabriel turned down an England U16 international call-up for a pair of friendly matches against Italy. His father confirmed that he would instead remain with Manchester United's U18 side. The decision was made because staying with his club was considered more beneficial for his development.[13]
On November 1, 2025, JJ Gabriel made his England U16 debut in a 3–2 loss against Turkey U16, starting the game.[14]
Gabriel made his England U17 debut on 25 March 2026 during a 2027 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification match against Faroe Islands at St George's Park National Football Centre.[15]
Style of play
Personal life
His father Joe O'Cearuill is a former professional footballer and played for the Republic of Ireland.[1]
Gabriel is eligible to play for England, Ireland, Cyprus and Trinidad and Tobago. He was born and raised in the UK, but is eligible to play for other countries thanks to his Irish father, Cypriot mother and Trinidadian grandfather.[16]