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JJ Gabriel, 15, Scores Winner on FA Youth Cup Debut as Man United U18s Advance

The forward is the youngest United player recorded in the competition, reflecting a carefully managed rise under Darren Fletcher.

Overview

  • Manchester United’s Under-18s beat Peterborough United 1-0 at Old Trafford, with Gabriel finishing in the 22nd minute to seal third‑round progress.
  • United will host the winner of Cambridge United versus Derby County in the fourth round, with that tie to be decided next.
  • At 15 years, two months, Gabriel is cited as United’s youngest FA Youth Cup player on available online records dating from 2007/08.
  • Fletcher has shifted Gabriel into a central role, and the teenager has already sampled first‑team training as part of a tailored development plan.
  • Reports note strong external interest, including from Barcelona, with technical director Jason Wilcox previously involved in efforts to keep the player; United hold a record 11 Youth Cup titles, last won in 2022, and the announced attendance was 1,378.