- Manchester United is set to sign Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu and Arsenal academy talent Ayden Heaven
- Dorgu’s transfer fee is expected to be between €35-38 million, making it Lecce’s most expensive sale in history
- The Danish defender will sign a five-year contract with a salary of around €1 million per season
- Heaven rejected contract offers from Arsenal and Eintracht Frankfurt to join United
- The 18-year-old defender is expected to develop in United’s academy before potentially joining the first team
Key Takeaways:
Manchester United is finalizing two incoming transfers, securing deals for Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu and Arsenal academy player Ayden Heaven. Dorgu is set to become the first signing under manager Rúben Amorim, with Manchester United and Lecce having reached a full agreement. The transfer fee is expected to be between €35-38 million, depending on the final structure of guaranteed payments and bonuses. This move will mark Lecce’s most expensive sale in history, nearly doubling the club’s previous record set by Morten Hjulmand’s €19.5 million transfer to Sporting in 2023.
🚨🔴 Patrick Dorgu to Manchester United, here we go! Verbal agreement in place with Lecce, documents to be checked in next 24h.
Fee will be €30m plus €5m in add-ons not guaranteed.
Long term contract agreed days ago with the player…
…and first signing for Rúben Amorim. 🤝🏻 pic.twitter.com/YZkKX4YnHp
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 28, 2025
The 20-year-old Danish defender is scheduled to travel to Manchester today for medical tests before signing a five-year contract. His salary is expected to be around €1 million per season.
Alongside Dorgu, Manchester United is also set to sign 18-year-old Ayden Heaven from Arsenal’s academy. Considered one of Arsenal’s top young prospects, Heaven rejected a contract extension from the London club, as well as an offer from Eintracht Frankfurt, in favour of a move to Old Trafford.
Heaven is expected to undergo medical tests before completing his move. At this stage, he is unlikely to be integrated directly into Manchester United’s first team and will initially develop within the club’s academy.