15-year-old JJ Gabriel makes history with hat-trick on UEFA Youth League debut for Manchester United

Abdullateef Fowewe

Fifteen-year-old JJ Gabriel has announced himself on Europe’s youth stage with a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut, powering Manchester United to a 5-0 win over Sabah and becoming the club’s youngest-ever player, scorer and hat-trick scorer in the competition.

The England youth international, whose full name is Joseph Junior Andreou O’Cearuill, netted his treble at 15 years and 339 days, setting a new club record for the youngest player to score three goals in the tournament.

His breakthrough follows a rapid rise through United’s academy, after he scored twice on his U18 debut at age 14, won the U18 Premier League Player of the Season award, and featured as an unofficial substitute in a first-team pre-season friendly.

Gabriel’s performances have earned him exposure to first-team training sessions and drawn comparisons to some of the game’s top young talents, underscoring the depth of attacking potential emerging from Manchester United’s youth system.