After joining Manchester United earlier this year, Ayden Heaven has revealed the moment which made his mind up on the transfer from Arsenal.
Ayden Heaven joined Manchester United from Arsenal in January for a modest £1.5 million fee, despite having never started a professional match and making only one substitute appearance for the North London club.
Initially seen as a long-term prospect under Ruben Amorim, his signing was met with skepticism from fans who questioned whether the 18-year-old was ready for first-team action. But Heaven wasted no time silencing the critics.
Thrust into high-pressure games against Fulham, his former club Arsenal, and Real Sociedad, the young defender displayed remarkable composure well beyond his years. Amorim even quipped that Heaven might be “too calm,” while Wayne Rooney praised his performances as “fantastic”.
Though injuries restricted him to just six appearances throughout the season — including a knock against Leicester City and a subsequent setback during recovery — Heaven ended the campaign on a high note with an assured display in United’s final-day victory over Aston Villa, reminding everyone of his considerable potential.
Heaven: One moment ‘made up my mind’ to join United
Heaven is expected to have an important upcoming season and be heavily involved in Amorim’s plans, after gaining the head coaches trust last term.
Many fans are now happy with the deal to sign the defender, but United were not the only team interested in Heaven back in January, with Eintracht Frankfurt, Barcelona, Chelsea and Marseille all eyeing the defender at the time.
Jason Wilcox helped win over the Arsenal starlet and Heaven has explained that an invite to United’s Europa League game against Rangers was the moment which convinced him, with the noise at Old Trafford that night being something he’d never heard elsewhere.
“That was the game that made my mind up, really, because I’ve never been to a louder stadium than that,” he told The Athletic. “It was really noisy and the staff in the directors’ box were really kind.”
Heaven also believed that he would shine in Amorim’s controversial system. “I saw myself playing in that team while I was watching. I felt like three at the back would suit me,” he added.
“I met Jason at Carrington and he was showing us around, and then I saw Ruben when we went out to the pitches,” Heaven says. “We spoke for like five minutes and he said he would help me.”
Heaven’s plans for next season
Heaven is a calm and cool character but even he was struck by the atmosphere created within Old Trafford and that is just another way for United to convince players to move.
For the defender now, he is settled into the club and entering the new campaign from the off, with hopes of an injury-free pre-season tour.
With Lisandro Martínez still out injured, Heaven will be eyeing that left centre-back role for when the season opens against his former club Arsenal next month.
Amorim is clearly a big fan of the youngster, who already feels to have thd confidence of a fully fledged first-team regular.
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