Arsenal are battling to secure the future of highly-rated academy defender Ayden Heaven, as both Manchester United and Eintracht Frankfurt circle with interest in the 18-year-old.
Heaven, who is yet to sign a professional contract with Arsenal despite being offered terms, now finds his future as one of the transfer subplots of the January window.
Arsenal have been working to convince Heaven to commit his long-term future to the club, but competition is intensifying.
Eintracht Frankfurt, in particular, have shown serious intent, with their CEO Markus Krosche confirming ongoing talks with Arsenal about signing the teenager.
Speaking to ESPN after Frankfurt’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, Krosche said, “We spoke to Arsenal. We try to sign him. He’s a really good prospect, and we’ll see if we can find a solution with him.”
Heaven, who has already made his first-team debut for Arsenal this season, coming on as a substitute against Preston North End, has also drawn the attention of Manchester United, who have reportedly made an enquiry about his availability.
Meanwhile, Heaven’s decision to attend Frankfurt’s recent game against Borussia Dortmund has added fuel to the speculation surrounding his future. His scholarship contract with Arsenal is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning the Gunners risk losing him on a free transfer if they cannot secure a professional agreement in the coming weeks.
The defender’s hesitance to commit is notable, especially given that his peers Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have already signed professional contracts with the club. Heaven’s reluctance to follow suit has opened the door for other clubs to swoop in, leaving Arsenal scrambling to prevent losing another young star to a rival—a scenario they have faced in the past with players like Omari Hutchinson, who departed for Chelsea.
Adding to the challenge is the lure of Frankfurt, a club known for their excellent record in developing young talent and providing opportunities in the Bundesliga. Heaven’s trip to Germany is being interpreted as more than just exploratory, with reports suggesting Frankfurt are keen to agree on terms with Arsenal now to avoid a lengthy wait until the summer.
As for Manchester United, their interest further complicates matters for Arsenal. Losing Heaven to a Premier League rival would be a bitter blow, particularly when the club has made significant efforts in recent years to prioritise the integration of academy talent into Mikel Arteta’s first team and they already lost Chido Obi-Martin to United.
Arsenal remain hopeful of resolving the situation, with Fabrizio Romano and Simon Collings reporting earlier this month that negotiations are ongoing. However, the longer Heaven remains unsigned, the greater the risk of an exit.
Having already made seven first-team matchday squads this season, the 18-year-old defender has shown glimpses of his potential. His performances for England’s youth teams and his development in Arsenal’s academy mark him out as one of the brightest defensive prospects in his age group.
With Manchester United pushing for his signature and Eintracht Frankfurt offering the chance to develop in a less pressurised environment, Arsenal must act decisively to convince Ayden Heaven that his future lies in North London.