Ex-Manchester United captain Harry Maguire (Picture: Getty)
Harry Maguire expects Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven to form Manchester United’s centre-back partnership in ‘five or six years time’.
Yoro, 20, and 18-year-old Heaven are two of the most highly-rated players at Old Trafford.
French defender Yoro has already made 62 appearances for the Red Devils following his £52m move from Lille in 2024.
Champions League giants Liverpool, Real Madrid and PSG were all interested in Yoro but United won the race, securing his signature on a five-year contract.
Yoro broke his foot during a pre-season game just two weeks after joining Manchester United but has impressed since then, playing in Ruben Amorim’s back-three and keeping his place in the team under current boss Michael Carrick.
Heaven, meanwhile, has made 15 appearances for United this season, having moved to Manchester from Premier League rivals Arsenal in 2025.
Experienced England defender Maguire believes Yoro and Heaven both have ‘amazing futures’ ahead of them and spoke particularly glowingly of Yoro.
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Leny Yoro has impressed for Man Utd this season (Picture: Getty)
‘Leny Yoro has all the attributes, the talent, and the potential to have whatever career he wants,’ ex-Manchester United captain Maguire told DHL Express.
‘It’s exceptional to see someone playing centre-back in the Premier League at his age, especially at a club like Manchester United.
‘He’s doing an amazing job and there is still so much more he can improve on. Hopefully, in 10 or 15 years’ time, we’re sitting here putting his name in that bracket of the all-time greats.’
Man Utd signed Ayden Heaven from Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Turning his attentions to fellow United defender Heaven, Maguire added: ‘I’ve been very impressed with Ayden Heaven since he broke into the team.
‘In five or six years’ time, I believe he and Leny Yoro could be the central defensive partnership for this club.
‘The talent is there; now it’s down to them to keep working hard and pushing. They both have amazing futures ahead of them here.’
The writing appeared to be on the wall for Maguire’s Manchester United career after he was stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag in 2023.
But the 33-year-old is enjoying one of his best ever seasons at Old Trafford, with his form earning him a recall into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
Maguire’s current United contract is set to expire in the summer but the club are believed to be keen on him staying given not only his form but the leadership and experiences he brings.
‘Leadership is vital in the dressing room and around the club because you don’t win anything without people who set high standards and help the younger lads feel confident on the pitch,’ Maguire said of his role in the squad.
‘The best teams always have a balance of great leaders and experience within the squad.’
Manchester United were stagnating under Amorim but have improved drastically since Carrick was appointed as caretaker manager.
The Red Devils are third in the Premier League with seven games remaining and face Leeds United in their first game back after the international break.
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