JJ Gabriel has not trained at Manchester United’s Carrington base for more than two weeks, after handing in a request to leave the club. The young forward has instead been working alone in Castelldefels, near Barcelona, under private coach Jack Hunter, as the JJ Gabriel Manchester United exit situation continues to develop away from the club’s own training ground.
Carrington Exit Details on Academy Talent
The Manchester Evening News was first to report Gabriel’s absence from Carrington and his move to Spain, setting out the exit request and the private arrangement with Hunter in Barcelona. That account, reported by the Manchester Evening News, remains the primary source on the JJ Gabriel Manchester United exit and has not been contradicted by the club.
We covered his uncertain Old Trafford future in our earlier report last week, and United’s academy had already made its position clear on his paperwork. The club’s view on his status was set out in United’s stance on academy registration, published the same day.
Those two pieces explain the background to this latest development. Neither Gabriel’s camp nor United have issued a public statement on his Carrington absence or his training set-up in Spain.
Youth Squad Impact, Injury Verdicts and International Debuts
Gabriel’s absence is not the only item affecting United’s academy this week. Jack Moorhouse has suffered an ACL injury during a behind-closed-doors friendly while on loan at Dundee, and the club expects him to miss the rest of the season. It’s a significant setback for a defender who had been earning regular football in Scotland.
There was better news from England duty. Jim Thwaites made his debut for England Under-20s as a substitute in a 2-1 win over France. He was joined in the squad by fellow United academy players Ayden Heaven, Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher, a reminder of the strength still coming through United’s age groups.
Four players from the academy appearing in one England Under-20s squad is a notable return for United’s youth setup, even as Gabriel’s exit request and Moorhouse’s injury dominate the headlines this week.
Upcoming Contract Timelines and Next Steps for Academy Stars
Harry Amass’s contract offers the clearest timeline among United’s academy group. The defender has nine months left on his current deal, and United are due to trigger a 12-month extension option before the January transfer window opens.
Gabriel’s next steps remain unclear. He has not returned to Carrington, and no date has been set for talks between his representatives and the club. Moorhouse’s rehabilitation will run through the rest of the season, while Thwaites, Heaven, Lacey and Fletcher all return to first-team or academy duty after their trip with England Under-20s.
