Harry Maguire expects Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven to form Manchester United’s centre-back partnership in ‘5 or 6 years time’.
Yoro, 20, and 18-year-old Heaven are two of probably 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 fascinated with 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 within 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 each have ‘amazing futures’ ahead of them and spoke particularly glowingly of Yoro.
Your football fix
Metro‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy evaluation, transfer talk and his tackle the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Enroll here, it’s an open goal.
‘Leny Yoro has all of the attributes, the talent, and the potential to have whatever profession he wants,’ ex-Manchester United captain Maguire told DHL Express.
‘It’s exceptional to see someone playing centre-back within the Premier League at his age, especially at a club like Manchester United.
‘He’s doing an incredible job and there remains to be so rather 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.’
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 5 or 6 years’ time, I imagine he and Leny Yoro might be the central defensive partnership for this club.
‘The talent is there; now it’s right down to them to maintain working hard and pushing. They each have amazing futures ahead of them here.’
The writing gave the impression to be on the wall for Maguire’s Manchester United profession after he was stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag in 2023.
However the 33-year-old is having fun with one among his best ever seasons at Old Trafford, together with his form earning him a recall into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
Maguire’s current United contract is ready to run out in the summertime however the club are believed to be keen on him staying given not only his form however the leadership and experiences he brings.
‘Leadership is important within the dressing room and across the club since you don’t win anything without individuals who set high standards and help the younger lads feel confident on the pitch,’ Maguire said of his role within the squad.
‘The most effective teams at all times have a balance of great leaders and experience inside the squad.’
Manchester United were stagnating under Amorim but have improved drastically since Carrick was appointed as caretaker manager.
The Red Devils are third within the Premier League with seven games remaining and face Leeds United of their first game back after the international break.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the most recent news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Nigel Farage claims Premier League side have invited him to attend game
MORE: Roy Keane’s mum Marie dies surrounded by family: ‘The one boss I ever hearken to’
MORE: Nicky Butt urges Man Utd to sign £65m striker after raising Benjamin Sesko concern