NEW BOY HEAVEN QUESTIONED ALREADY

Manchester United’s recent signing of 18-year-old defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal has sparked debate, with concerns raised about his character and decision-making. Having made just one senior competitive appearance before his switch to Old Trafford, United are betting on Heaven’s potential, hoping he will develop into a first-team regular.

With Lisandro Martínez sidelined due to an ACL injury, Heaven could find himself in the spotlight sooner than expected. The youngster made the bench for United’s FA Cup win over Leicester, but not everyone is convinced that his move from Arsenal was the right decision.

Former United goalkeeper Ben Foster has openly questioned why Heaven would leave Arsenal—where he had a potential pathway into an established and successful first team—to join a club currently in a state of uncertainty. Speaking on his *Fozcast* podcast, Foster said:

*"It does raise a lot of eyebrows and questions about what kind of character is happy to leave Arsenal when there’s possibly a pathway for him to be part of a very successful first team. To then go and join Man United, which from the outside is toxic, chaotic, and you don’t really know what the playing style is, that would straightaway make me question why he’s done that."*

Reports suggest that Heaven’s move to United included a significant pay rise—something that could either fuel his motivation or, as Foster warns, cause complacency. The former goalkeeper believes lucrative contracts at a young age can sometimes lead players to lose their drive.

*"When most players get that big contract, they soften and lose that hunger. Subconsciously, it gets into you, and I’ve seen it week in, week out throughout my career. They’ve been on rubbish money for three years, and then all of a sudden they get that big contract. The handbrake is straight up, and they think they don’t have to keep doing the things that they were always doing before, like going to the gym in the morning because they’ve already got that contract for four years."*

Despite Foster’s skepticism, United have insisted that Heaven’s decision was driven by a clearer route to first-team football rather than financial incentives. United’s technical director Jason Wilcox praised the young defender’s potential upon signing, stating:

*"We are delighted that Ayden has joined Manchester United. He is already an extremely talented defender who is ready to join our first-team squad."*

Heaven’s move also reunites him with former Arsenal academy teammate Chido Obi-Martin, who has been making waves in United’s youth setup with nine goals in as many games.

With the Red Devils in transition under Ruben Amorim and INEOS looking to reshape the squad, Heaven’s development will be closely watched. Whether he proves Foster wrong and thrives at Old Trafford—or falls into the trap of early-career comfort—remains to be seen.