Ayden Heaven has finally explained his decision to leave boyhood club Arsenal for Manchester United.
England U19 defender Heaven spent five years at Arsenal after joining the club’s academy at the age of 14.
The highly-rated youngster trained with Arsenal’s first team during the 2023-24 campaign and was involved heavily with Mikel Arteta’s squad in last summer’s pre-season.
Heaven made his first-team debut in October but only played two more games for the Gunners before completing a move to Manchester United at the end of the January transfer window.
The 18-year-old signed a four-and-a-half year contract at Old Trafford and quickly impressed Ruben Amorim in training, so much he was brought on against his former club in a Premier League match in March.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Heaven made a further five appearances for United – including appearing in the Europa League – before his season was curtailed by an injury sustained against Leicester City.
The ex-Arsenal defender did return for Manchester United’s final two Premier League games and will hope to enjoy a productive pre-season ahead of a potentially breakout 2025-26 campaign.
Given the trajectory of both United and Arsenal, Heaven’s transfer decision appeared questionable and he has now explained the reason for the switch.
‘The opportunities that the young players have got here in the past,’ Heaven told MUTV when asked why he decided to join Manchester United.
‘I think United had the most minutes given to teenagers last season [2023/24]. That convinced me to come here.
‘And the people and the fans here are quite loving, and I felt that when I was playing. They’re so supportive.’
Heaven said an encouraging conversation with Amorim also helped convince him to make the move to Old Trafford.
‘He just said that our play style will suit me, because they play three at a back and I play on the left of the three, so that allows me to run with the ball,’ the teenager said.
‘That’s one of my strengths. And defending out wide is one of my strengths as well.’
When Heaven arrived at Old Trafford, he was immediately greeted by Mason Mount, another player who left London to join the Red Devils.
‘The first day I was here, at Carrington, he came up to me and introduced himself and we had a good 10-minute conversation,’ Heaven added.
‘He reminded me that we played each other in pre-season and he remembered a tackle I hit him with in the first minute!
‘So, yeah, me and Mason are good friends. And obviously Bruno [Fernandes], as well, the captain, he’s helped
‘Patrick [Chinazaekpere Dorgu] as well, we signed together, basically the same week and we’ve been together since then.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.