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Monday 26 May 2025 11:00
Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven put in another assured performance against Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season.
Although his first few months with the Reds have been somewhat stuttered on account of injury, his confident display was another example of exactly what we’ve come to expect from the 18-year-old.
United signed Heaven from fellow Premier League side Arsenal back in January, with the centre-back having made just one senior appearance for the Gunners, a 10-minute cameo against Preston North End in the Carabao Cup, before making the switch to Old Trafford.
Since the move, he’s been a first-team mainstay for Amorim, who made clear his desire to bring in more characters like Heaven as the summer transfer window approaches.
Speaking to MUTV after the Villa game, Amorim said: “I think once again Jason Wilcox is doing a great job bringing Ayden.”
Wilcox joined United just over a year ago as technical director, with a key oversight on transfers like the one that brought Heaven to Manchester.
“I think these types of players are what we need,” Amorim continued. “He showed a lot of quality and character after the big injury.
“We want these types of players.”
Heaven now has six senior appearances to his name for United, a tally that no doubt would have been higher had he not been sidelined earlier in the season.
Back in March, legendary Reds striker Wayne Rooney poured praise on the defender for how he’s taken adjusting to such an elite level in his stride.
Rooney told Match of the Day at the time: “I came in as an 18-year-old at United and you do feel that pressure, but to come in as a centre-back – which is obviously a position where you can’t afford to make mistakes, otherwise you get punished – is very difficult.
“He [Heaven] looks like he’s been there for years and that’s the biggest compliment I can give him.”
With the success of the defender’s move, who shared the pitch with fellow Arsenal graduate Chido Obi for a portion Sunday afternoon’s match, United will undoubtedly be looking for similarly strong additions this summer.
Heaven now jets off to Asia with the rest of Amorim’s squad to face ASEAN All-Stars and Hong Kong, China in our post-season tour, presented by Snapdragon.
We’ll have full coverage of both games live on MUTV – subscribe here so you don’t miss out!
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Monday 26 May 2025 11:00
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