Manchester United youngster Ayden Heaven has revealed the key role manager Ruben Amorim played in convincing him to join the club.
Heaven signed for United from Arsenal in the winter market and he has captured fans’ imagination despite only playing six games for the first team.
The 18 year old centre back was thrown into the deep end against Fulham in the FA Cup on his debut, impressing in extra-time.
He also showed his incredible potential in matches versus Arsenal and Real Sociedad in March. He would later pick up an injury that kept him out of action until the final games of the season.
Speaking to the club’s website, he delved into why he opted for a move to United instead of staying at Arsenal.
Heaven stated, “the opportunities that the young players have got here in the past. I think United had the most minutes given to teenagers last season [2023/24]. That convinced me to come here.”
The centre back also lavished praise on the Old Trafford crowd claiming, “the people and the fans here are quite loving, and I felt that when I was playing. They’re so supportive.”
The role of Amorim was also crucial in persuading Heaven to swap London for Manchester.
Commenting on what the former Sporting CP coach said to him before signing he added, “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.”
Heaven stated that progressing the ball forward and defending from a wide position are two of his key strengths and only further convinced him that he would flourish under Amorim’s guidance.
The teenager also picked out Mason Mount as someone who has helped him settle so quickly at the club in just a few months.
Heaven said, “the first day I was here, at Carrington, he came up to me and introduced himself and we had a good 10-minute conversation. He reminded me that we played each other in pre-season and he remembered a tackle I hit him with in the first minute!”
He added that captain Bruno Fernandes and fellow winter recruit Patrick Dorgu have also played a key role in his swift adaptation to life at Old Trafford.
Ayden feels at home here 🏡❤️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 5, 2025
Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
