Patience will be a virtue for Manchester United’s young defender Ayden Heaven this season.
The 19-year-old made a big impact at Old Trafford in 2025-26, making 18 first-team appearances, including 11 Premier League starts.
Heaven showed the promise that United felt was worth signing him from Arsenal, where he had already made his senior bow.
However, after a run of starts under Ruben Amorim, they dried up once Michael Carrick took charge, with Leny Yoro tending to be preferred if Harry Maguire or Lisandro Martinez weren’t available given Matthijs de Ligt had already suffered the back problem that eventually ended his season.
Carrick did start Heaven in three games towards the end of the season though and rates the teenager highly.
With De Ligt still injured and Martinez now on a three-week break after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina, Heaven has started the opening two pre-season games in Helsinki and Trondheim alongside Maguire, with Yoro stepping in at right back.
“I know I’m young and I’ve got to be patient, especially in my position,” said Heaven.
“You don’t see a lot of 19-year-olds playing week in, week out. It’s nothing personal. I’m just waiting for my opportunity.”
Heaven was selected in the England Under-20 squad last season and it targeting further international honours this term.
“The sky’s the limit,” he said, mentioning the full England senior squad. “I’ve just got to keep working hard.”
He couldn’t have anyone better to learn from than Maguire.
The sound of the experienced defender’s voice echoing round Rosenborg’s Lerkendal Stadium on Friday as United won 5-0 was a reminder for Heaven the game is about more than simply playing.
“He’s had over 20 years of experience playing,” said Heaven.
“He speaks a lot and he always tells me to speak. I always work on that with him.”
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