Ayden Heaven completed his move to Manchester United on Saturday as Patrick Dorgu prepared to become the club’s second signing of the transfer window.
United will pay compensation of around £1.5million to Arsenal for Heaven who will join the first-team squad immediately.
The 18-year-old centre back, who made his senior debut for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup in October, has signed a contract until June 2029 with the option of another year.
‘I’m incredibly proud to join Manchester United,’ said Heaven. ‘I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this dream a reality.
‘There is so much that I want to achieve in the game, I’ll be giving everything to continue my development and become the best player that I can be.’
Dorgu flew in from Italy on Saturday to undergo a medical and complete his move from Lecce after United agreed to sign the Denmark left wing-back for £25.4m plus £4.2m in add-ons.
Manchester United have announced the signing of Arsenal youngster Ayden Heaven
Man United confirmed the former Arsenal player will immediately join the first-team squad
Dorgu’s arrival is likely to signal Tyrell Malacia’s departure with the Netherlands defender in talks over a loan move to Benfica.
‘We are delighted that Ayden has joined Manchester United,’ said Jason Wilcox, Man United technical director.
‘He is already an extremely talented defender who is ready to join our first-team squad in order to maximise his development.
‘This club has a phenomenal track record of supporting young players and we believe that Ayden is in the perfect place to reach his excellent potential.’
The central defender’s contract had been due to expire at Arsenal at the end of the season, and Mail Sport reported last week how the Gunners were trying to convince Heaven to sign a new contract amid an enquiry from United.
The left-footed defender, who has also attracted interest from Eintracht Frankfurt, has similarly made the bench for three Premier League games this season.
United completed a deal for Heaven, with an agreement sealed after he turned down Arsenal’s offer of a professional deal following a contract stand-off.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had previously talked up Heaven’s qualities after he shone during a victory against United in pre-season.
The defender’s deal was up in the summer and the Gunners were desperate to keep him
Heavan’s move to United will come as a major blow to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
‘Very impressive,’ the Spaniard said. ‘At 17, I don’t know how many players are able to do that on a stage like this.
‘He’s lost a duel against one of the strongest and fastest players in the world [Rasmus Hojlund], it can happen, but the reaction afterwards, the composure, the quality, the body language that he had were all remarkable. I’m really happy with him.’
Speaking more widely on Heaven and fellow youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, Arteta added: ‘Myles has played a lot of minutes, Ethan as well, Aiden [Heaven] as well in pre-season.
‘It’s given us a big platform for them to understand how good they are and the options that we have in the squad right now and they’ll certainly be training with us.
‘What I love the most is their attitude, their personality, how much they want it, the way they were competing in training.
‘We throw them in very difficult circumstances and it was a great test to see where they are and they are going to be in a good place.’
United have made another inquiry about signing Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel on loan after the 19-year-old Frenchman rejected Tottenham. Tel is also attracting interest from Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot admits Ruben Amorim’s comment that United might be the worst team in the club’s history stung, but insists it is inspiring the players to prove their head coach wrong.
It also comes months after United signed 17-year-old striker Chido Obi-Martin from Arsenal
Heaven (L) regularly trained with the first team and was one of the club’s brightest prospects
Since Amorim made the admission after the defeat to Brighton two weeks ago, United have won three games as they prepare to face Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday
Dalot said: ‘I don’t want to hear that, so the message for me is the next training session I have to show that I don’t want to belong to the worst Manchester United team in history.
‘You can analyse it as something negative. I analyse it as something positive because I want to change the situation.’
