Why Reigan Heskey Left Manchester City to Join Bundesliga Following Sancho and Bellingham's Path

Reigan Heskey has chosen to leave Manchester City for a new chapter in his career by moving to the Bundesliga. The 18-year-old forward, son of former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey, shared the reasons behind this decision with GOAL. Following the footsteps of stars like Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, Reigan is ready to take on fresh challenges outside England.

Family Ties and Academy Background

Reigan, alongside his brother Jaden Heskey, grew through City's academy system. Jaden had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday last season. Both brothers were highly rated by City, yet breaking into the Premier League first team remains tough due to fierce competition.

Reigan decided the summer of 2026 was the right time to explore opportunities beyond England, stepping far outside his comfort zone.

Following Successful Predecessors

Reigan is not the first English talent to head to Germany. Jadon Sancho moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2017 after being part of City's setup. Later, Jude Bellingham joined Dortmund three years afterward, with his younger brother Jobe also making the move.

Reigan has now signed with FC Köln. The deal could reach up to £8 million ($11m) including add-ons. He made one senior appearance for City in a Carabao Cup match before leaving.

Emile Heskey Explains the Decision

"At 17 or 18, if you're ready for first-team football but can't get it in England, you have to go where there's a proven track record. Germany offers that," Emile Heskey told GOAL in partnership with Premier League betting site BetWright."Our youth international players are fantastic, yet they're not given chances here. Players have to go abroad to develop, even though England boasts one of the best leagues in the world."Young talents like Marc Guehi at Chelsea didn't get opportunities and had to leave. Others are thriving in their home countries, but our kids miss out on crucial playing years at 18 to 20, often stuck in under-21 squads.""My son Jaden will be 20 or 21 soon. I left for Liverpool at 22 after five seasons at Leicester. Many youngsters now lose vital development time playing only 21s matches, which provide limited experience except for a couple of EFL Trophy games."

Reigan’s Playing Time and Future Prospects

Last season, Reigan featured twice in the EFL Trophy for City against Bolton and Rotherham. His only senior appearance came as a late substitute in a Carabao Cup game versus Huddersfield. The Bundesliga promises more first-team minutes for the promising winger who impressed many at the 2025 U17 World Cup by scoring four goals.

This move signals faith in his ability and offers him the chance to showcase his talent at a high level, something that was limited at Manchester City.