Ayden Heaven

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

At just 19 years old, Ayden Heaven has already carved out a place in Manchester United's resurgent defense as the club sits 4th in the Premier League table. Signed for a €10m fee on February 1st from Arsenal's academy system—his third youth setup after stints at Edmonton United and West Ham—Heaven represents Rúben Amorim's long-term vision for United's backline. Despite his tender age and 55 overall rating, the 1.89m centre-back has already made 7 senior appearances, registering 1 assist across 428 minutes of action while donning the #26 shirt. His ball-playing ability and aerial dominance are evident in his FIFA defending (60) and physical (55) attributes, traits that have seen him slot alongside established defenders like Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. With a contract running until 2029, Heaven profiles as the defensive anchor United hopes will marshal their backline for the next decade.