Manchester United have always grabbed top talent early, and JJ Gabriel is one of the most exciting prospects to emerge in years. Born in 2010, the young forward went viral aged 8 in a Youtube video where his technical abilitiy earned the name, Kid Messi. He joined United from West Ham in 2012, and became the youngest player in history to play for the Under 18s team: he was just 14 years old and scored twice. Aged 15, he was already training with the first team.
Gabriel has consistently featured for sides above his age group, and his performances at youth level have proved him to be a player who is more than comfortable taking on defenders, with a natural instinct in the final third. Although still in the early stages of his development, his rapid progression through the Academy structure reflects the club’s belief in his long-term potential, and a first team appearance is imminent.