Manchester United have completed the signing of teenage defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.
The 18-year-old’s scholarship deal at Arsenal was due to expire at the end of the current season, with a compensation package in the region of £1.5million agreed between the clubs.
Heaven said of his move: “I am incredibly proud to join Manchester United. I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this dream a reality.
“There is so much that I want to achieve in the game, I’ll be giving everything to continue my development and become the best player that I can be.”
The Athletic reported in the DealSheet last month that Heaven was close to leaving Arsenal with United emerging as the leading candidates in recent weeks.
Arsenal offered Heaven a professional deal, while the 18-year-old was at Old Trafford to discuss terms with United and attended their recent Europa League game against Rangers. He also travelled to Germany for talks with Eintracht Frankfurt in January.
On January 18, Frankfurt’s CEO Markus Krosche confirmed his club were interested in signing the teenager and the German club had made Arsenal aware of their interest.
While Arsenal academy players Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have broken through to regular first-team involvement in 2024-25, Heaven — who featured in Arsenal’s squad photo for 2024-25 — remained on the fringes of the squad.
The centre-back’s only appearance this season was a 10-minute substitute appearances in the Carabao Cup win at Preston North End on October 30 and his departure from Arsenal was amicable with an understanding from all sides.
Last year, United signed Denmark youth international striker Chido Obi-Martin following the expiration of his schoolboy terms at Arsenal.
(Top image: Manchester United)
