Ayden Heaven

Last updated

Ayden Heaven
Personal information
Full name Ayden Edford Heaven [1]
Date of birth (2006-09-22) 22 September 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Enfield, London, England
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Manchester United FC
Youth career
2015–2019 West Ham United
2019– Arsenal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024– Arsenal 0 (0)
International career
2024 England U18 2 (0)
2024– England U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:15, 1 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:19, 25 September 2024 (UTC)

Ayden Edford Heaven (born 22 September 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Arsenal.

Contents

Club career

Heaven joined the academy at West Ham United when he was eight years old, where he stayed for four years. After a trial with Chelsea, he joined the academy system at Arsenal, the club he had supported since childhood. [2] He signed a scholarship contract with Arsenal in the summer of 2023. [3] He trained with the Arsenal first team squad on occasion during the 2023–24 season. [4] [5] He was best friends with Miles Fearon growing up.

Heaven was heavily involved with Arsenal first team training during the 2024 summer preseason, and was one of three youngsters, along with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, individually praised by manager Mikel Arteta in August 2024. [6] The following month he was included amongst the match-day substitutes for the North London derby against Spurs in the Premier League. [7] He made his Arsenal debut on 30 October 2024, away at Preston North End in EFL Cup helping Arsenal win 3–0. [8]

International career

In May 2024 Heaven made his debut for the England U18 side against Northern Ireland. [9]

Style of play

Heaven is considered capable of playing as a box-to-box central midfielder as well as in defence, central or left-sided. [10] [11] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikel Arteta</span> Spanish football manager (born 1982)

Mikel Arteta Amatriain is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sokratis Papastathopoulos</span> Greek footballer (born 1988)

Sokratis Papastathopoulos, also known mononymously as Sokratis, is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang</span> Gabon international footballer (born 1989)

Pierre-Emerick Emiliano François Aubameyang is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah and captains the Gabon national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikel Merino</span> Spanish footballer (born 1996)

Mikel Merino Zazón is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Spain national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donyell Malen</span> Dutch footballer (born 1999)

Donyell Malen is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Netherlands national team. Malen started his professional career at PSV Eindhoven. At youth level he also featured for Ajax and Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reiss Nelson</span> English footballer (born 1999)

Reiss Luke Nelson is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Fulham, on loan from Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jadon Sancho</span> English footballer (born 2000)

Jadon Malik Sancho is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Chelsea, on loan from Manchester United.

Emile Smith Rowe is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Fulham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Saliba</span> French footballer (born 2001)

William Alain André Gabriel Saliba is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Arsenal and the France national team. Regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world, he is known for his strength, pace, tackling and composure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukayo Saka</span> English footballer (born 2001)

Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka is an English professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team. Known for his creativity, dribbling, and work rate, he is regarded as one of the best players in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folarin Balogun</span> American soccer player (born 2001)

Folarin Jerry Balogun is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Monaco and the United States national team.

Matthew Gerrard Smith is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic as a midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Patino</span> English footballer (born 2003)

Charlie Michael Patiño is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Segunda División club Deportivo La Coruña.

<i>All or Nothing: Arsenal</i> Amazon Original sports docuseries

All or Nothing: Arsenal is an Amazon Original sports docuseries as part of the All or Nothing brand. In the series, English Premier League side Arsenal's progress was charted through their 2021–22 season, in which they were the youngest team in the Premier League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethan Nwaneri</span> English footballer (born 2007)

Ethan Chidiebere Nwaneri is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal.

Lino Gonçalo da Cruz Sousa is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for EFL League One side Bristol Rovers, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa. Born in Portugal, he is a youth international for England.

Ben Aaron Cottrell is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Slovak First Football League club Zemplín Michalovce.

The 2024–25 season is Arsenal Football Club's 33rd season in the Premier League, their 99th consecutive season in the top flight of English football, and 108th season in the top flight overall. In addition to the domestic league, Arsenal is also participating in this season's editions of the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League, the latter of which is their 39th European campaign. The season covers the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

Max Dowman is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iñaki Caña</span> Spanish football player and coach (born 1975)

Iñaki Caña Pavón is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and is currently the goalkeeping coach of Premier League club Arsenal.

References

  1. "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  2. Collings, Simon (8 July 2024). "Arsenal transfer news: Gunners face fight over Ayden Heaven as Borussia Dortmund target deal". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  3. Collings, Simon (21 February 2024). "Arsenal transfer news: Academy star Ayden Heaven attracting Premier League interest". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  4. Canton, Tom (21 February 2024). "Who are James Sweet and Ayden Heaven? – Arsenal youngsters drafted in for Porto clash". Football.London. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  5. Vegas, Paul (9 July 2024). "BORUSSIA DORTMUND HEAVEN PRESSURE ARRIVES FOR ARSENAL". Tribal Football. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  6. Haigh, Phil (16 August 2024). "Mikel Arteta backs three Arsenal youngsters to step up this season". Metro. UK. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  7. "Spurs vs Arsenal 0–1". Soccerway. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  8. "Setford, Heaven thrilled with winning Arsenal debuts". Tribal Football. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  9. Vassell, Zac (22 May 2024). "Report: England MU18s 4–2 Northern Ireland". England Football. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  10. Connor, Lee (8 July 2024). "Borussia Dortmund now want to sign Arsenal teenager who Mikel Arteta had in first-team training last season". tbrfootball. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  11. Gallagher, Jack (16 August 2024). "4 of Arsenal's potential breakout stars of 2024/25 season". 90min.com. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  12. Kaynak, Kaya (19 July 2024). "Arsenal predicted XI vs Bournemouth as two youngsters start and new signing involved". Football.London. Retrieved 18 September 2024.