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Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle United have reportedly kept their eyes on Ayden Heaven as well.
Arsenal wonderkid Ayden Heaven (X)
Chelsea are reportedly keen to sign Arsenal wonderkid Ayden Heaven. The 18-year-old centre-back has already come under the radar of several Premier League outfits. Coming out of the Hale End academy, Heaven made his senior team debut for Mikel Arteta’s side in a Carabao Cup fixture against Preston United earlier this season. Arsenal have been desperate to tie him down to a new professional contract. Heaven, however, has already rejected several offers from his current club and may opt for an Emirates exit in 2025.
The teenager has seven months left in his present contract with Arsenal. The club is expected to try their best to convince the talented defender to stay. Heaven kicked off his youth career with Edmonton United and played for West Ham United for some time before shifting his base to the North London club.
Arsenal have produced several eye-catching talents over the last few years. Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, and Myles Lewis-Skelly are all products of the Hale End academy. Most of these players have already made a unique identity in European football. Arsenal, however, have lost some of their academy graduates.
One of them is Chido Obi-Martin who joined Manchester United last summer. Omari Hutchinson also left Arsenal to sign for Ipswich Town via Chelsea. The London Blues will now look to take Ayden Heaven on board.
Some other English outfits like Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle United have reportedly kept their eyes on Heaven as well, as reported by TBR Football. Arsenal offered a new contract to the youngster when he first started practising with the senior team. He was later approached with an improved contract immediately after turning 18. None of the offers reportedly seemed convenient to Heaven.
According to football analyst Ben Mattinson, Ayden Heaven is more like a “midfielder in defence”. “From a youth level point of view, his ability to take on so much responsibility in build-up play, carry from deep and spray long passes to break the press are his standout traits,” Mattinson wrote in a social media post.
Heaven is able to play as a left-back as well, thanks to his exceptional passing abilities. He can also be developed as a defensive midfielder who can lead the backline besides operating box-to-box.
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London, United Kingdom (UK)