Manchester United have snapped up two young talents from Arsenal over the last year, with Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven making the move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United have placed a keen focus on signing young players during the Ineos era.
Signings such as Bryan Mbeumo make big headlines, but Ineos are also looking towards the future.
This summer has seen Enzo Kana-Biyik join United from Le Havre, before heading straight out on loan to Lausanne-Sport.
Harley Emsden-James is joining United from Southampton, and Ineos are likely to continue chasing youngsters for the future.
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty ImagesAyden Heaven’s move to Manchester United explained
Two exciting moves over the last 12 months have seen United raid Arsenal for a pair of top talents.
Chido Obi joined United last summer, with the teenage goal machine stunning Arsenal by completing a move to Old Trafford.
We saw Obi in first-team action last season, and there should be plenty more to come in the near future.
United repeated the trick in January as defender Ayden Heaven quit Arsenal for a move to Old Trafford.
Heaven only played six times for United’s senior side after his move, but he showed major potential to become a first-team star.
The 18-year-old could even fill in for Lisandro Martinez on the left side of United’s back three under Ruben Amorim to start the season.
Heaven’s move has now been explained by his mother, Lisa, who also acts as the defender’s agent.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Heaven’s mother noted that the teenager was utterly convinced by a move to United after meeting with the club.
Barcelona invited Heaven for talks the very next morning, but he snubbed the Catalan giants in favour of United.
Lisa loved that decisiveness from her son and added that she had been watching Ruben Amorim’s plans very closely before committing to United.
“Ayden walked away, going, ‘yeah, it’s United’,” said Lisa.
“We talked again in the morning because we were invited to Barcelona the next day, and he said, ‘nope, it’s United’. That’s why I knew it was the best move for him because he’s picked it from the heart, and if he’s got the heart and the loyalty, then that’s what wins the game.
“I’d been watching United, I knew Ayden’s playing style, and I knew what Ruben liked. Ayden had the same confidence,” she added.
Ayden Heaven on Manchester United move
Heaven himself commented on the move and just why he was attracted to joining United in the first place.
Arsenal had given Heaven a first-team debut in a Carabao Cup clash with Preston North End, but decided to leave just months later.
Heaven noted that he saw himself fitting right into United’s squad, especially due to a lack of competition in his position.
Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw have both endured extensive injury problems, and United were looking to develop another left-footed defender.
Heaven sensed that opportunity and was proven right, playing first-team football earlier than he would have done at Arsenal or Barcelona.
“I just saw myself in the squad because there’s not much in our way, so I just felt like I could establish myself better than at other clubs,” he added.
Heaven is now looking to catch the eye in pre-season, all with the aim of featuring in the Premier League kick-off against Arsenal, especially with Martinez still unavailable.