The 15-year-old prodigy of Man United has no chance to debut in the Premier League

Supporters waiting for JJ Gabriel to appear for Man United’s first team will face disappointment because of the Premier League rules.

In the latest training session preparing for the match against Crystal Palace, 15-year-old JJ Gabriel was noted training with Man United’s first team. Gabriel is gradually becoming a familiar name among Red Devils fans. Despite his young age, he is considered the most promising talent currently at the Carrington academy.

Gabriel’s inclusion in first-team training under coach Amorim indicates the Portuguese manager’s recognition of his talent. Gabriel also shared pictures of his training on social media, showing his excitement to be alongside senior players.

However, despite his impressive performances at youth level and participation in first-team tactical sessions, Gabriel cannot make his first-team debut for Man United due to Premier League regulations.

According to the rules, a player must be 15 years old before August 31 of the new season to be eligible for registration. Gabriel only celebrated his 15th birthday last October, so he does not meet the criteria to play in the Premier League.

However, Gabriel’s chance to debut for the first team this season is not entirely closed. The age restriction only applies to the Premier League, while the FA Cup does not have this limitation. Therefore, if he continues to impress coach Amorim, Gabriel still has the opportunity to debut in the first team when Man United competes in the FA Cup third round in January 2026.

At 9 years old, Gabriel gained nationwide attention in England after a video of his match went viral on YouTube, earning him the nickname “Little Messi.” Man United also regard JJ Gabriel as a top talent and planned early to keep him amid interest from other big clubs.

Man United is believed to have outlined a clear development path for Gabriel, and calling him up to train with the first team at just 15 shows the club’s high expectations for the young player. Therefore, his debut for the first team this season is still possible.

Currently, Angel Gomes holds the record as the youngest player to appear for Man United, debuting at 16 years and 263 days old.

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