Reigan Heskey joins FC Koln from Manchester City
Reigan Heskey, an 18-year-old talent from Manchester City, has completed a move to FC Koln. Heskey’s transfer marks a new chapter in his career after spending 11 years within the Manchester City academy system, progressing through various age groups to the first team.
Heskey initially joined Manchester City‘s Under-9s at the City Football Academy. Throughout his time there, he demonstrated a strong desire to score and assist teammates, showcasing his dribbling, passing, skills, and pace.
Heskey’s Journey Through Manchester City’s Academy
During his debut season with the Under-18s in 2024/25, Heskey, an England youth international, contributed to 36 goal involvements across 41 appearances in all competitions. His performance helped Manchester City secure the Under-18 Premier League North title that season.
In the 2025/26 season, at the age of 17, Heskey advanced to the EDS squad. He continued to impress in front of goal, recording 13 goals and 16 assists in 41 games. His consistent efforts were acknowledged with his senior debut for the club.
Heskey featured as a second-half substitute in Manchester City‘s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Huddersfield in September 2025. This particular match was notable as his older brother, Jaden, also made his competitive debut in the same game.
Following his senior appearance, Heskey played a role in helping the Under-18s retain the North title. He then scored a late winning goal as Manchester City defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup final, held at the Joie Stadium.
Cologne’s English Connection Continues
Heskey’s move to FC Koln adds another English player to the German club’s roster, continuing a connection that dates back decades. The list of English players who have represented Cologne is relatively short, beginning with Tony Woodcock, who arrived in 1979.
Woodcock, an established England international and European Cup winner, joined Cologne from Nottingham Forest. He quickly made an impact, making 130 Bundesliga appearances and scoring 39 goals across two spells with the club (1979–82 and 1986–88).
His first season was particularly successful, with 17 league goals contributing to Cologne finishing as runners-up to Bayern Munich. During his return spell, Woodcock featured in the club’s run to the 1985/86 UEFA Cup final.
For many years, Woodcock remained Cologne‘s only notable English player. This changed in 2026 with the arrival of centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, also from Manchester City. Simpson-Pusey initially joined on loan before making the move permanent ahead of the new campaign, ending a nearly 40-year wait for another English player in Cologne‘s first-team squad.
Heskey, the son of former England striker Emile Heskey, arrives at Cologne as a winger with a reputation as a promising young attacker. His transfer further strengthens the club’s growing link with English talent, following in the footsteps of previous Manchester City academy graduates.
The success of English players in the Bundesliga has evolved significantly since Woodcock‘s pioneering move in 1979. What was once a rare occurrence has become a more established pathway for English talent, with players like Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham, and Jamie Gittens using the league as a platform for development.
The transfer of Harry Kane to Bayern in summer 2023 further highlighted this evolution, demonstrating that English players are now arriving as established stars at major European clubs. Heskey’s new challenge at Cologne continues this intriguing, albeit short, English story at the club, shaped by players willing to explore different career paths.
Everyone at Manchester City has extended their best wishes to Reigan for this new chapter in his career.
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Source: mancity.com
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
