---
title: "Man City confirm Heskey exit as Koln interest turns into transfer"
canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2026/07/18/man-city-reigan-heskey-fc-koln-transfer-confirmed/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Man City News"
published: "2026-07-18T06:40:24Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T19:32:36Z"
---

# Man City confirm Heskey exit as Koln interest turns into transfer

**[City](https://readmancity.com/) have confirmed forward Reigan Heskey has completed a permanent transfer to FC Koln, subject to international clearance, closing out a move that had been [gathering pace since German interest first emerged](https://readmancity.com/2026/07/15/fc-koln-man-city-reigan-heskey-transfer-interest/) earlier this month.**

The son of former England striker Emile Heskey spent eleven years in City’s academy system, working through every age group from the Under-9s to a first-team debut in last season’s Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield Town — a game that also featured brother Jaden, making them the first sibling pairing to appear for City’s first team since Kolo and Yaya Toure.

### Academy numbers hard to ignore

Heskey’s output at academy level explains Koln’s interest. He posted 36 goal involvements in 41 games during his first Under-18 season in 2024/25, then stepped up to the Elite Development Squad and produced 13 goals and 16 assists in 41 appearances last term, helping the Under-18s retain their Premier League North title and scoring the winner in an FA Youth Cup final win over Manchester United.

### Contract stall preceded exit

The move follows reports that talks over a new professional contract had stalled, with City facing competition from clubs across England and Europe for his signature.

City wished Heskey well in a statement confirming the deal, bringing a close to an academy story that looked destined for a first-team breakthrough before Bundesliga interest intervened.