Reigan Heskey is set to join Bundesliga side Köln from Manchester City in a permanent transfer worth €2 million, according to Sky Sports. The 18-year-old winger has already completed his medical and is expected to sign a contract with the German club that will run until 2030.
This move sees Heskey reunite with former Manchester City teammate Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who recently had his loan deal with Köln made permanent for a reported €6 million fee. Both players progressed through the youth ranks at the Etihad Stadium, having featured together in several youth teams. Köln’s squad planners, Thomas Kessler and Tim Steidten, were instrumental in securing Heskey’s signature, with Steidten’s prior experience at West Ham proving beneficial in evaluating the young English player.
Heskey made his senior debut for Manchester City in the EFL Cup last season, a competition the club ultimately won under Pep Guardiola. Despite limited first-team opportunities, he demonstrated significant goalscoring prowess at youth level, netting 41 goals across all youth teams, including 18 goals in 21 starts in the U18 Premier League. This record clearly caught the attention of Köln’s scouting network.
The son of former England international Emile Heskey, Reigan inherits a strong footballing lineage. Emile Heskey famously scored in England’s memorable 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich during the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign, a match that remains a highlight for English football fans. The transfer represents an opportunity for the younger Heskey to gain regular first-team football and develop his potential in a competitive European league.
The move to Köln provides Heskey with a clear pathway to senior football, something that was not immediately available at Manchester City given the club’s wealth of attacking options. For Köln, the signing adds youthful energy and attacking threat to their squad as they look to consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
