Manchester United poached one of Arsenal's promising youth prospects in Ayden Heaven earlier this year and he's already earning the trust of Ruben Amorim
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven is currently one of the club's most promising young prospects, and he has enjoyed a rapid rise since his move from Arsenal earlier this year.
The teenager spent time in both West Ham and Arsenal's youth academies before signing for United for a nominal fee back in February. Upon his arrival, Heaven agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Red Devils and immediately stepped into the first-team squad.
Since joining the club, the 19-year-old has made 11 appearances for United and registered one assist, which came in the Premier League win over Brighton in October. Heaven has started two Premier League games under Ruben Amorim this term, including the recent 4-1 victory over Wolves, where he featured in a back three alongside Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui.
Heaven became the second highly rated youngster to join United from Arsenal within a four-month period, with forward Chido Obi-Martin making the same switch, albeit into United’s academy, towards the end of 2024. But there was a clear reason Arsenal were prepared to sanction the sale of such a bright prospect, and it comes down to another emerging name in their academy.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal's 16-year-old defender Marli Salmon has been likened to current first-team star William Saliba. The north London club believe he is their next major talent after Max Dowman, and that he has a clear pathway into the senior squad.
In midweek, Salmon came off the bench in the Gunners’ Champions League win over Club Brugge, with Mikel Arteta short of defensive options due to a pile-up of injuries. The report emphasises that Heaven’s departure to United was accepted internally at the Emirates because of the belief they have in Salmon.
Ayden Heaven of Manchester United enters the pitch to warm up prior to the Premier League match against Everton
Manchester United signed Ayden Heaven from Arsenal back in February(Image: Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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United, of course, are the beneficiaries of that belief, securing a highly promising player in Heaven. One who is already earning Amorim’s trust in key Premier League matches.
After the Wolves win, having featured in back-to-back league games, Heaven said post-match: "There's so many great defenders at this club that he's trusting you to be at the middle of that defence.
"He [Amorim] is trusting me a lot. I feel like I'm working hard every day in training and I'm showing he can trust me in the games that I'm playing.
"I thought I was a good player but I knew that I first had to gain the trust of the manager and slowly I know I'm doing that. I feel like I'm doing well at the moment, but I've just got to keep working."