Manchester United have officially signed 18-year-old defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal for an undisclosed compensation fee. The talented teenager will immediately integrate into the first-team squad at Old Trafford.
Heaven joined Arsenal’s youth academy in 2019 at the age of 13 and made his senior debut as a substitute in an EFL Cup victory over Preston in October.
“I am incredibly proud to join Manchester United. I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this dream a reality,” Heaven stated. “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.”
United’s technical director, Jason Wilcox, expressed his excitement about the signing: “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. 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 becomes the second young player to make the switch from Arsenal to United this season, following 17-year-old striker Chido Obi-Martin’s move in October.
Meanwhile, Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu is set to travel to Manchester for a medical on Saturday. The Denmark international was an unused substitute in Lecce’s Serie A victory over Parma on Friday. Reports indicate that the transfer fee will be under £30 million, including add-ons.
The signing of Heaven aligns with Manchester United’s renewed strategy of investing in young talent with the potential to develop into first-team regulars. While he may lack the experience of United’s £52.2 million signing Leny Yoro, he has a deeper understanding of the English game. With United advancing to the Europa League last 16, it remains to be seen how much playing time Heaven will receive and what impact his arrival will have on the club’s defensive lineup, particularly with Victor Lindelof’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Despite United trailing Arsenal in league standings, the pathway to first-team football may appear clearer at Old Trafford. Heaven, for instance, did not make a single Premier League appearance for Arsenal before his transfer.
Source: Swifteradio.com
