Red-hot star with six starts in December earns United’s Player of the Month Award – report

Manchester United’s young defender Ayden Heaven has received recognition for his stellar run of form with the senior side of late. The Englishman left Arsenal in January last year to join the Red Devils, becoming one of Ruben Amorim’s first signings at the Theatre of Dreams. Heaven showed promise last season, but was part of a squad that struggled to impress, finishing the campaign in 15th in the Premier League table. Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt’s impressive start to the 2025/26 season, meanwhile, relegated the youngster to the bench for an extended period. However, recent injuries to De Ligt and Harry Maguire have handed the teenager a lifeline, which he has grabbed with both hands. United’s Player of the Month Heaven had made just three appearances for the senior side before December, but was heavily involved in the final month of the year. The 19 year old started all six matches, earning plaudits for his maturity and composure. Ayden Heaven Premier League Stats: 2025/26 Season MetricValue Appearances (Sub)8 (2) Assists1 Expected Goals (xG)0.08 Expected Assists (xA)0.16 Touches in Opposition Box7 Passes (Completed %)244 (92%) Long Passes (Completed %)12 (75%) Minutes Played487 Dribbles (Completed %)3 (67%) Duels Won30 Aerial Duels Won15 Total Tackles9 Interceptions1 Blocks6 Red Cards0 Yellow Cards1 Fouls3 Source: Premier League website. The youngster’s efforts have won over fans, who have voted him Player of the Month, as announced by the club. “Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven has been named our Player of the Month for December. The 19-year-old has been in inspired form across a busy period for the Reds, when injuries to both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt presented an opportunity at the heart of the defence.” “Ever since, Heaven has performed with maturity beyond his years, most notably helping us keep a clean sheet with a Man-of-the-Match display against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.” Heaven received 49% of the votes, with Senne Lammens (34%) coming second and Matheus Cunha (17%) finishing third. A shrewd bit of business Against Newcastle United, Heaven made eight clearances, helping United register only their second clean sheet of the season. He also completed 34 of his 36 passes from the back, displaying qualities that make him a strong fit for Amorim’s tactical system. In the 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this week, the teenager won all six of his ground duels, while completing four of his five long passes. He also won the tackle that led to Joshua Zirzkee’s goal. As things stand, the Red Devils’ decision to prise him away from the Emirates is already paying dividends. Final Thoughts INEOS have implemented a youth-centric transfer policy at Old Trafford, and Heaven is one of several talented youngsters to arrive under their stewardship. With Leny Yoro also on the books, United may already have the defensive backbone of the future at their disposal. Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.