Rooney hails Man Utd signing as a 'REAL COUP'

Cameron Smith

17 Mar 2025 15:15 GMT
4 min read

Wayne Rooney has hailed Ayden Heaven as a “real coup” for Manchester United following his arrival from Arsenal in January.

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The 18-year-old secured a €1.8 million move to Old Trafford during the 2025 January transfer window after failing to break into the senior side under Mikel Arteta and he has enjoyed a successful start to life at Man Utd.

Heaven has already made four first-team appearances for the Red Devils since his arrival, and he started his first Premier League match during Man Utd’s 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday evening.

The teenager was forced off due to injury in the second-half, but his performance against the Foxes, following an impressive few weeks, caught Rooney’s eye.

The Man Utd legend was on punditry duty for Match of the Day 2 and he heaped praise on Heaven following his display at the King Power Stadium.

What has Wayne Rooney said?

“It’s a huge football club and at this time now, when maybe it’s not going right, to come in and play at 18 - it’s a lot of pressure, because those expectations are on you from the first minute,” Rooney began.

“But I think from the games he’s played he’s been fantastic.

“I came in as an 18-year-old at United and you do feel that pressure, but to come in as a centre-back - which is obviously a position where you can’t afford to make mistakes, otherwise you get punished - is very difficult.

“He looks like he’s been there for years and that’s the biggest compliment I can give him.”

"He looks like he's been there for years." 🤩@WayneRooney full of praise for Man Utd's 18-year-old defender Ayden Heaven 👏#BBCFootball #MUFC pic.twitter.com/SIpTHMJiYY
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 17, 2025

Rooney added: “He’s come in from Arsenal, so he knows what it’s like to be at a big club. I think that will have helped him, but he doesn’t look like he’s playing with pressure.

“He looks calm, he looks composed. He gives them good balance obviously with his left foot. He looks quick and he looks like he likes defending, so I think he’s a real coup for Manchester United.”