Manchester United’s rising star Ayden Heaven has alleviated fans’ concerns with an encouraging update on his injury, shared via a heartfelt social media post late Tuesday night. The 18-year-old defender, stretchered off during Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Leicester City, took to Instagram to reassure supporters, saying, “Thank you guys for all the support! I have read all your messages, and I’m doing really well and recovering fast.” Accompanying the message was a red heart emoji and a photo of him being attended to on the pitch, a moment that had initially sparked fears of a long-term setback.
Heaven’s injury occurred early in the second half at the King Power Stadium, during his first-ever Premier League start. The young centre-back, who joined United from Arsenal in January for a reported £1 million, tangled with Leicester striker Patson Daka while defending a cross. He immediately signaled for help, writhing in pain as medical staff rushed to his aid. After a five-minute delay, Heaven was carried off on a stretcher, replaced by Toby Collyer, while Sky Sports opted not to show replays of the incident due to its distressing nature.
Post-match, Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim offered little clarity, noting the difficulty in assessing the injury’s severity due to Heaven’s youth and inability to articulate his pain fully. “It’s hard to know because we have to evaluate during the week,” Amorim said. “Even when he was on the ground, he couldn’t speak and didn’t know how to explain what he was feeling.” Despite the uncertainty, a glimmer of hope emerged when Heaven was spotted leaving the stadium with his foot in a protective boot but walking unaided, easing initial fears of a season-ending issue.
The teenager’s social media update has since sparked optimism among the United faithful, with the club’s official X account reposting his message alongside the caption, “We’re all with you, Ayden,” flanked by a flexed bicep and heart emoji. Fans flooded the comments with well-wishes, praising Heaven’s resilience and rapid rise under Amorim’s stewardship. One supporter wrote, “Get well soon, lad—you’ve got a bright future ahead!”
Heaven’s breakthrough has been a silver lining in an injury-plagued season for United’s defense. With key centre-backs Lisandro Martínez, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, and Leny Yoro sidelined at various points, the former Arsenal academy product seized his chance, impressing in substitute appearances against Arsenal and a full outing in the Europa League against Real Sociedad. His commanding presence against Leicester—highlighted by a crucial clearance before Rasmus Højlund’s opener—had fans buzzing about his potential before the injury cut his night short.
While the exact nature and timeline of Heaven’s recovery remain unclear, his upbeat post suggests a swift return could be on the cards. United’s next fixture isn’t until April 1, when they face a formidable Nottingham Forest side, giving Heaven and other recovering players a valuable window to heal. Amorim will be hoping his young star can resume his trajectory, having previously lauded his “confidence, pace, and completeness” after a draw with Arsenal.