Man United’s Ayden Heaven: “I Want to Be Like Van Dijk and Maguire in the Box”
Manchester United’s rising star Ayden Heaven has declared his ambition to become a dominant set-piece threat, just like Premier League defensive icons Harry Maguire and Virgil van Dijk.
The 18-year-old centre-back, who joined from Arsenal in February 2025, made six appearances and now aims to become a regular goal threat during set piece.
Inspired by Premier League Giants
In an exclusive chat with The Athletic, Heaven laid out his vision clearly:
“I want to score more goals from set pieces,” he said. “You see Gabriel (at Arsenal), Van Dijk, and defenders like Maguire. I want to be like them — scoring goals. It’s also a mental thing. You have to believe you’re going to score.”
The teenage defender wants to add this layer to his game as he continues developing under new United manager Ruben Amorim.
Ayden Heaven – Steady Rise at Old Trafford
Heaven made his Premier League debut against Arsenal and earned his first start in the Europa League, earning praise for his maturity and ball-playing confidence.
The club considers him one of its brightest defensive prospect.
Since signing a long-term deal until 2029, Heaven has been part of Manchester United’s first-team setup. Technical Director Jason Wilcox previously called him an “extremely talented defender” with massive potential.
Eyes on the Next Level
With Amorim expected to trim his preseason squad, Heaven is pushing to stay in the mix and fight for minutes in a competitive defensive unit. His commitment to becoming a complete defender—strong in duels and dangerous in the box—mirrors the path of players he idolizes.
As Manchester United look to return to elite form, Ayden Heaven wants to be at the heart of their new era; defensively solid and deadly on set pieces.
