Fifteen-year-old forward JJ Gabriel has been named in Manchester United’s senior squad for the first time for Friday’s friendly against Rosenborg.

The youngster, who won both the Premier League and United’s Under-18 awards last season despite only being 14 when the campaign began, is part of Michael Carrick’s 25-man travelling party for the pre-season friendly in Trondheim.

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Gabriel, who doesn’t turn 16 until October, is the only change to the squad that was beaten 1-0 by Wrexham in Finland last week with striker Ethan Wheatley dropping out.

It had been expected Gabriel would play some part in United’s pre-season this summer given the progress the Londoner has made through the club’s youth system.

But should the winger feature in Norway to make his first senior appearance for the club, it will be the latest milestone in the teenager’s career.

Manchester United travelling squad: Tom Heaton, Radek Vitek, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, , Andrey Santos, Bryan Mbeumo, Chido Obi, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Harry Amass, Toby Collyer, Dan Gore, Dermot Mee, Shea Lacey, Ethan Williams, Jaydan Kamason, Jacob Devaney, Jim Thwaites, Dan Armer, JJ Gabriel.

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Who is JJ Gabriel?

One of the most talked about young players in England’s academy system, director of football Jason Wilcox was personally involved in persuading Gabriel to remain at United last summer.

It is part of a concerted effort to bring promising young talents to the Old Trafford club, with United this week completing the capture of 18-year-old England youth international Tynan Thompson from Tottenham in a deal that could eventually reach £8m.

Gabriel became the youngest player to feature for United’s U18s in 2025 at the age of 14 – scoring twice in a victory against Leeds United.

He became a key component of the side last term, helping United to get to the FA Youth Cup and Premier League Under-18 cup finals.

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Although the club ultimately lost both, Gabriel was a stand-out performer – scoring 29 times in 32 appearances for the Red Devils.

He was initially called up for first-team training by Ruben Amorim and has been a regular since, with Carrick keeping a close eye on United’s academy teams.

Gabriel was not involved in last week’s defeat by Wrexham in Helsinki as he had returned to training less than a week earlier, but United are carefully handling a precocious talent.

The teenager was invited into the directors’ box on a number of occasions last season and met with Sir Alex Ferguson following a draw against West Ham at Old Trafford in December.

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Such access is not commonplace, which underlines how much promise United see in the youngster.

If Gabriel features in Norway he will be one of the youngest players ever to play a senior game. The youngest player to feature in a competitive match for United is David Gaskell, a goalkeeper who made his debut when he was 16 years and 19 days. Gabriel will not be 16 until 6 October.

Not everyone in Carrick’s squad is guaranteed to play.

United took 25 men to Helsinki for the defeat by Wrexham. Even though Carrick picked completely different teams for each half, goalkeeper Dermot Mee, midfielder Jim Thwaites and striker Chido Obi were not used.