Ayden Heaven
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ayden Edford Heaven[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 September 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Enfield, London, England | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester United | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2019 | West Ham United | ||
| 2020–2025 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2025 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
| 2025– | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024 | England U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | England U19 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:15, 1 August 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:19, 25 September 2024 (UTC) | |||
Ayden Edford Heaven (born 22 September 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester United.
Club career
[edit]Arsenal
[edit]Heaven joined the academy at West Ham United when he was eight years old, where he stayed for four years. After a trial with Chelsea, he joined the academy system at Arsenal, the club he had supported since childhood.[2] He signed a scholarship contract with Arsenal in the summer of 2023.[3] He trained with the Arsenal first team squad on occasion during the 2023–24 season.[4][5]
Heaven was heavily involved with Arsenal first team training during the 2024 summer pre-season, and was one of three youngsters, along with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, individually praised by manager Mikel Arteta in August 2024.[6] The following month he was included amongst the match-day substitutes for the North London derby against Spurs in the Premier League.[7] He made his Arsenal debut on 30 October 2024, away at Preston North End in EFL Cup helping Arsenal win 3–0.[8]
Manchester United
[edit]On 1 February 2025, Heaven joined Manchester United for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract with an option for an extra year.[9][10]
International career
[edit]In May 2024, Heaven made his debut for the England U18 side against Northern Ireland.[11]
Style of play
[edit]Heaven is considered capable of playing as a box-to-box central midfielder as well as in defence, central or left-sided.[12][13][14]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 30 January 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal U21 | 2023–24[15] | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 2024–25[16] | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| Arsenal | 2024–25[16] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Manchester United | 2024–25[16] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ^ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ Collings, Simon (8 July 2024). "Arsenal transfer news: Gunners face fight over Ayden Heaven as Borussia Dortmund target deal". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Collings, Simon (21 February 2024). "Arsenal transfer news: Academy star Ayden Heaven attracting Premier League interest". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Canton, Tom (21 February 2024). "Who are James Sweet and Ayden Heaven? – Arsenal youngsters drafted in for Porto clash". Football.London. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Vegas, Paul (9 July 2024). "Borussia Dortmund Heaven pressure arrives for Arsenal". Tribal Football. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Haigh, Phil (16 August 2024). "Mikel Arteta backs three Arsenal youngsters to step up this season". Metro. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Spurs vs Arsenal 0–1". Soccerway. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Setford, Heaven thrilled with winning Arsenal debuts". Tribal Football. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ Stone, Simon (1 February 2025). "Man Utd sign teenager Heaven from Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ "Ayden Heaven signs for Manchester United". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Vassell, Zac (22 May 2024). "Report: England MU18s 4–2 Northern Ireland". EnglandFootball.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ Connor, Lee (8 July 2024). "Borussia Dortmund now want to sign Arsenal teenager who Mikel Arteta had in first-team training last season". tbrfootball. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Gallagher, Jack (16 August 2024). "4 of Arsenal's potential breakout stars of 2024/25 season". 90min.com. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Kaynak, Kaya (19 July 2024). "Arsenal predicted XI vs Bournemouth as two youngsters start and new signing involved". Football.London. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Ayden Heaven in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Ayden Heaven in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2025.