Man United starlet eligible for England rejects international allegiance swap

Manchester United starlet Ayden Heaven will reportedly not switch international allegiance from England to Ghana.

The 19-year-old has broken into Ruben Amorim’s first team this season, starting five Premier League games.

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He has played the full 90 minutes in United’s last three matches and has impressed.

Heaven has played for England at Under-18s, 19s and 20s, but is yet to get a senior call-up.

The central defender also qualifies for Ghana through a grandparent and the country’s FA have been monitoring his development.

Ghana have been drawn in the same group as England, Croatia and Panama for the 2026 World Cup.

So there could have been a scenario where he faced the country of his birth in the US, Canada and Mexico.

However, the BBC report that he wants to represent England at senior level and will not switch to Ghana.

Heaven at Man United

The teenager joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of 13 in 2019 and made his senior debut in October 2024 in an FA Cup win over Preston.

However, he joined United in February 2025 for an undisclosed fee and made the first of six senior appearances in the 2024/25 campaign shortly after.

His influence in the United back line has grown in recent weeks and was awarded the man-of-the-match in the 1-0 victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day.

Manager Ruben Amorim said: “I am really pleased with Ayden. You can feel that he is improving every game.

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“He is young, but you can feel that he has a good game, slows the thinking and improves during the game.

“He trained really well and, if he continues to play like that, it is going to be really hard to take his place.”

Heaven also got high praise from Man United legends after that win over Newcastle.

“He (Heaven) did very well. The game suited him,” Roy Keane commented on Sky Sports. 

“He has learnt his trade. These are basic parts of defending. It gives you confidence. Outstanding”

Gary Neville added: “Manchester United hung in there. Heaven was absolutely brilliant. Those Newcastle players… four or five of them collapsed to the ground at the end. Heaven has been the man of the match.”

United are next in action against Wolves on December 30.