JJ Gabriel has asked Manchester United to cancel his registration and is preparing to leave the club, but Chelsea won't be able to take advantage of the situation to sign the 15-year-old talent immediately.
Having been with United since the age of 11, Gabriel is regarded as one of the academy's brightest prospects. Despite the player's desire to move, the London club cannot currently register him into their academy.
26 goals in 29 matches
Last season, Gabriel scored an impressive 26 goals in just 29 appearances for Manchester United’s youth teams.
The forward also made history as the youngest recipient of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award.
Recently, he even netted a hat-trick in his debut match in the UEFA Youth League, further heightening interest in his potential.
Despite his exit request, first-team manager Michael Carrick had planned to include the 15-year-old in the squad for the upcoming League Cup match against Brighton.
Why Chelsea can't sign him
Though Chelsea have shown interest, a move to the capital club is now virtually impossible.
In March, Chelsea received a nine-month ban on signing academy players, alongside a £750,000 fine for breaches related to the registration of young players between 2019 and 2022.
This ban prohibits the club from registering new academy players until the end of 2026.
If Gabriel successfully leaves Manchester United before January, Chelsea won't be able to register him in their academy due to the ongoing transfer restrictions.
