Why Reigan Heskey Left Manchester City and Followed Sancho and Bellingham to the Bundesliga

Reigan Heskey, the 18-year-old forward, has left Manchester City to pursue a new challenge in the German Bundesliga. His father, former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey, shared with GOAL the reasons behind this decision. Reigan, who has impressed at England’s U18 level, chose to follow the path set by stars like Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, who both moved from England to Germany early in their careers.

Academy Roots and Career Decisions

Reigan and his brother Jaden Heskey were both part of Man City's academy. Jaden had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday last season. Despite their talents, breaking into the first team at a Premier League giant like City is tough. For Reigan, the summer of 2026 was the moment to explore other options and step outside his comfort zone.

Following Precedents: Sancho and Bellingham

This isn't an unusual route. Sancho left City for Borussia Dortmund in 2017, with Bellingham joining Dortmund three years later. Jude’s younger brother, Jobe Bellingham, has also taken this step. Reigan now joins FC Köln, with a transfer deal that could reach up to £8 million ($11m) including add-ons.

Reasons Behind Heskey's Bundesliga Switch

"At 17 or 18, if you’re ready for first-team football but not getting it in England, you need to go where there’s a proven track record," Emile Heskey said. "Germany has shown it time and again."He added that England’s youth internationals have talent equal to Germany’s, yet they often miss chances to play at senior level in England. "We shouldn’t have to go abroad, but that’s what’s happening," he said. "England buys young players from France and Germany, while our own youngsters miss out on important playing time at 18, 19, and 20 years old."Emile reflected on his own career, leaving for Liverpool at 22 after five seasons at Leicester, and criticized how many young English players are stuck playing in youth or reserve teams rather than gaining first-team experience.

Reigan's Playing Time and Future Prospects

Last season, Reigan appeared twice in the EFL Trophy for City and made a single senior appearance in the Carabao Cup against Huddersfield, coming off the bench with seven minutes left. Moving to Cologne promises more opportunities to prove himself, especially after his standout performance at the 2025 U17 World Cup, where he scored four goals.

• Premier League: Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth, 23 Aug 2026, 15:00
• DFB-Pokal: Wuerzburger Kickers vs FC Koeln, 24 Aug 2026, 18:00