Ayden Heaven is proving to be an absolute bargain for Manchester United just three games into his senior career.
Arsenal will be kicking themselves after last night in which the 18-year-old defender stepped up to the challenge of his first start in senior football.
Just over a month after joining Manchester United in a bid to get first-team football, the decision by Ayden Heaven looks completely justified.
Heaven cost United £1.5m which has already paid itself off effectively considering the cash prize for reaching the quarter-finals.
With this performance, Heaven established himself ahead of Victor Lindelof in the pecking order and a truly viable option for United.
The display continued an impressive start to his professional career.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Ayden Heaven boasts Virgil van Dijk-like record for Manchester United
Heaven was lauded on MUTV after United’s 4-1 win and he was certainly one of the biggest winners from the game for the home side.
The teenager boasted some impressive numbers in the game, but most impressively he continued a now three-game streak which is similar to what gave Virgil van Dijk his name.
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Heaven was not dribbled past against Sociedad, which means he is yet to be dribbled by as a senior footballer winning all of his four tackles across the Fulham, Arsenal and Real Sociedad games.
Ayden Heaven is yet to be dribbled past since making his first appearance as a senior player, winning all four of his tackles across the games vs. Arsenal, Fulham and Real Sociedad.
At least Arsenal fans have another robbery to complain about. 😳 pic.twitter.com/yDmOQR44ef
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 13, 2025
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This is an impressive stat, as he is finding his feet in the game yet managed to make himself invaluable immediately to Amorim.
He showed elite composure to perform to such a high level in a game where he became the youngest United player to start in a major European knockout tie since Marcus Rashford in March 2016.
At 18 years and 172 days old, Ayden Heaven became the youngest Manchester United player to start a major European knockout game since Marcus Rashford in March 2016 against Liverpool (18 years, 138 days).
His game by numbers vs, Real Sociedad:
100% duels won (4/4)
63 touches… pic.twitter.com/xdEvXdJAoS
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 13, 2025
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Heaven will be making Arsenal regret their decision to let him go and not use him, as he is quite clearly ready for senior football.
How Ayden Heaven played in first Manchester United start
Heaven was among United’s best performers on Thursday night as he performed beyond his years.
This will have delighted Jason Wilcox after he pushed for Heaven’s signing, and it shows Ineos that recruiting youngsters for cheap can be a successful recruitment strategy to ease financial concerns.
Heaven stats vs Real Sociedad
100% duels won (4/4)
63 touches
42/48 passes completed
4 clearances
4 final third entries
3 tackles
2 interceptions
0x dribbled past
0 fouls conceded
Heaven will have already earned the trust of Amorim, with Wes Brown claiming on MUTV that the youngster dealt with Sociedad with ‘ease’.
The only way is up for Heaven, with the sky the ceiling as he will continue to develop and improve his weak spots.