Manchester United wonderkid handed unexpected promotion in new career boost | OneFootball

Highly-rated Old Trafford talent’s swift rise marked by significant milestone

Manchester United youngster Ayden Heaven has been training with the England senior team.

However, Sky Sports first reported on Wednesday that Heaven was one of three younger players who had been invited to train with Thomas Tuchel’s senior side for the first time at St George’s Park.

He will not be part of the senior squad for pre-World Cup friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley, and is still set to travel with the U20s to Rome for their game on Friday.

It nevertheless marks another important milestone of progress for Heaven, who left Arsenal to join Manchester United in January 2025 in a deal worth over £1million in compensation.

He had entered the final six months of his scholarship terms in north London and turned down a professional contract with the Gunners, instead choosing to sign a four-and-a-half year deal at Old Trafford with the option of a further 12 months as he also rejected interest from Germany.

It was a path trodden just months earlier by prolific young striker Chido Obi, who left Arsenal after rejecting pro terms and joined Manchester United in October 2024.

Having played once at first-team level for Arsenal, Heaven has since made 21 senior appearances across all competitions for United, including 18 in the Premier League. He had featured 16 times this season, four occasions under interim manager Michael Carrick.

He came off the bench as a late replacement for Matheus Cunha during last week’s eventful 2-2 Premier League draw at Bournemouth ahead of the international break.

Fellow United youngster Shea Lacey was also invited to train with Tuchel’s England senior squad earlier this season, along with two fellow U20 call-ups in Chelsea’s Harrison Murray-Campbell and Lakyle Samuel of Manchester City.