OFFICIAL: Man Utd sign top Arsenal wonderkid with first-team promise

Robin Bairner

• 1 Feb 2025 11:50 GMT
• 5 min read

Manchester United have confirmed that they have completed the signing of Ayden Heaven from Arsenal and have indicated that he will go straight into Ruben Amorim’s squad.

Heaven becomes the second leading academy player from Arsenal that the Red Devils have managed to plunder over the course of six months, having previously snatched up Chido Obi-Martin from the Hale End academy of their Premier League rivals.

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Man Utd will only pay a nominal fee for the 18-year-old centre-back, who has signed a contract until June 2029 – a fact that is likely to leave Arsenal fuming.

Crucially, Heaven will go straight into Man Utd’s first team. The England U19 international had only featured once for Arsenal, playing 10 minutes of an EFL Cup fourth-round tie against Preston North End earlier this season.

In a statement on Man Utd’s official website, he said: “I am incredibly proud to join Manchester United. I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this dream a reality.

“There is so much that I want to achieve in the game, I’ll be giving everything to continue my development and become the best player that I can be.”

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Ayden Heaven: Ready for first-team football

Man Utd technical director Jason Wilcox reiterated that Heaven is ready for first-team football and believes that the Red Devils will offer him a platform to flourish.

“We are delighted that Ayden has joined Manchester United. He is already an extremely talented defender who is ready to join our first-team squad in order to maximise his development,” he said.

“This club has a phenomenal track record of supporting young players and we believe that Ayden is in the perfect place to reach his excellent potential.”

Heaven will not be available to feature in Man Utd’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Sunday but could potentially turn out for Ruben Amorim’s side for the first time against Leicester in the FA Cup on Friday.