Manchester United forward JJ Gabriel, who turned 16 on Tuesday, is preparing to obtain a Cypriot passport so he can sign for any club as a free agent from 1 January 2027, after formally asking to be released.
Gabriel was born in England to a Greek Cypriot mother. His request, together with pressure on United from his family and his agent, has drawn interest from many of Europe’s top clubs.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly preparing a large financial offer that includes a signing-on bonus. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have not given up trying to sign him.
United are making a last attempt to change his mind and keep him, though the reports suggest the odds are against them. According to reports, his representatives had asked the club for at least 20 minutes of playing time for him in the Champions League match against Sabah Baku and the FA Cup tie against Brighton. They made the request to help win him round to staying, but he did not get the minutes.
Gabriel has made a strong start to the season. In three appearances for United’s under-21 and under-19 sides, he has scored five goals and provided two assists. He scored a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah Baku’s under-19 team. He has played 32 times for United’s under-18s, scoring 29 goals and setting up four more.
FIFA rules ban international transfers of players under 18, but players aged 16 to 18 can move within the European Union and the European Economic Area. To use that exception, the new club must meet conditions on education, supervised accommodation and training. Since Brexit, British clubs no longer fall under it, and reports say an EU passport would allow FIFA to approve Gabriel’s move to a club on the continent. A move abroad would entitle United only to training compensation.
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