Cologne sign 18-year-old Reigan Heskey from Manchester City

Cologne have signed Reigan Heskey from Manchester City’s under-21 team. The 18-year-old attacker agreed a contract until 30 June 2031. The German club announced the transfer on 17 July.

Heskey joined Manchester City’s academy at eight and reached the under-21 side at 16. His academy record includes a season with 18 goals and nine assists. He also made his first-team debut in the League Cup during September 2025.

The contract runs for five seasons

Cologne confirmed the full end date in their announcement. Heskey will be under contract through the 2030/31 campaign. He arrives directly from Manchester City’s under-21 setup.

The club describes him as an attacker rather than assigning one permanent position. Managing director Thomas Kessler highlighted his pace, physical strength and ability to play in several attacking roles.

No transfer fee was published. Cologne also did not announce a loan or buy-back structure. The public record is a permanent signing with a contract to June 2031.

Heskey was born in Liverpool on 18 January 2008. He spent part of his childhood in Australia before joining Manchester City’s academy. The move came when he was eight.

At 16, he received a call into City’s under-21 team. He scored a hat-trick against Norwich on his debut during the 2024/25 season. That performance began a larger group of attacking numbers.

The club record lists 18 goals and nine assists during his rise. Those figures come from academy competition. His academy output stands alongside one senior Manchester City appearance.

His senior debut came in the League Cup

Manchester City played Huddersfield Town on 24 September 2025. Heskey entered late in that League Cup tie. Pep Guardiola also introduced his brother Jaden during the same match.

That substitute appearance is Reigan’s only confirmed first-team game for City. He did not arrive in Cologne with a full season of senior minutes. Most of his experience remains at under-18, under-19 and under-21 level.

Cologne’s announcement presents the move as the next step in his career. Heskey enters Cologne as an 18-year-old first-team signing with one senior Manchester City appearance.

England youth teams supplied 22 matches

Heskey has represented England at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level. He has seven goals across 22 youth international appearances. Those matches add another setting outside Manchester City’s academy.

The international total is smaller than his club academy sample but covers several age groups. It also confirms his place in England’s recent youth selections before the move to Germany.

A second five-year agreement took Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo to Leeds.

Cologne did not state whether his next international call will change after the transfer. Selection remains with England’s youth staff. His existing record is seven goals in 22 games.

Cologne identified his current qualities

Kessler called Heskey one of the exciting attacking players in his age group. He also said the player’s development is not complete. The statement combined present strengths with a long contract.

Head coach Rene Wagner was named as an important part of the club’s plan. Heskey said discussions with Cologne convinced him that his style fitted the team. He also described the Bundesliga as the next challenge.

Those comments explain the transfer without setting a private development programme. Cologne signed an 18-year-old attacker with academy goals, one senior appearance and England youth experience.

His family name does not change the playing record

Reigan is the son of former England striker Emile Heskey. His father played more than 500 Premier League matches and scored over 100 goals. Cologne included that background in the announcement.

Reigan has developed in a different position and football system. The younger player is described across the attack, while Emile built his senior career as a centre-forward.

The transfer will be measured through Reigan’s own appearances. His starting record in Germany is fixed. He is 18 and has a deal to 2031. The cited academy season brought 18 goals and nine assists. He also has seven England youth goals.

Manchester City supplied the full academy record

Heskey joined Manchester City’s academy at age eight. He reached the under-21 team at 16. A hat-trick against Norwich marked his debut at that level.

The cited academy season produced 18 goals and nine assists. Those numbers belong to his youth and development matches. They are academy and youth-international figures.

His Manchester City first-team debut came against Huddersfield on 24 September 2025. The match was played in the League Cup. His brother Jaden also entered late in the same game.

Heskey has represented England at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level. He has seven goals in 22 youth international matches. Cologne announced the transfer when he was 18.

Heskey arrives in Cologne at 18 with a contract to June 2031, seven goals in 22 England youth internationals and one Manchester City senior appearance. Cologne register him as a forward able to play in several attacking positions.