Manchester City brothers with famous surname make debut together

Manchester City’s League Cup meeting with Huddersfield Town was never going to be remembered as one of the great nights of English football, but for the Heskey family it became an unforgettable occasion.

Pep Guardiola, as he so often does in domestic cup competitions, chose to rest many of his established stars, giving younger players a chance to step onto the pitch. That decision opened the door for a pair of names that carry weight in English footballing history: Jaden and Reigan Heskey, sons of former England striker Emile Heskey.

Eighteen-year-old Divine Mukasa was the first of the youngsters to appear, leading the line from the start and collecting his first senior minutes of the season. Later, in the second half, came the moment the family will never forget. First Jaden, at 19, was called from the bench, and moments later his younger brother Reigan, still only 17, followed him onto the pitch. Both were handed their official first-team debuts in the same match, an incredibly rare event at the top level of the game.

For their father Emile, who spent more than a decade at the very top of the Premier League and scored over one hundred goals in the competition for Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Aston Villa, it was a proud and emotional evening. Sitting high in the stands at the Etihad Stadium, the former England international could not contain his joy. Later, he shared his thoughts with supporters online. “Over the moon,” he wrote on Instagram. “Both making their debut on the same night, amazing. Fantastic job.”

Pep Guardiola, who has built a reputation not only for winning trophies but also for placing trust in academy talent, understood the significance of the occasion. After the final whistle he was asked about the brothers’ appearance and delivered a short but telling response. “The parents of Jaden and Reigan will be proud,” the City manager said. “It is very cool that they made their debut at the same time.” For Guardiola, whose City squad is filled with world-class internationals, handing opportunities to teenagers from the club’s academy system remains an important part of his philosophy.

The Heskey surname will always be remembered in English football because of Emile’s international career. He earned 62 caps for the national team, featured at two World Cups and a European Championship, and played alongside stars such as Michael Owen, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard. Known as a powerful, tireless forward, Heskey was never the most glamorous striker, but he was respected across the game for his selflessness and reliability. That his two sons are now attempting to carve out their own path in the professional game adds another chapter to his legacy.

For Jaden and Reigan, the challenge now is to build on this first appearance. At such a young age, simply training each day at the Etihad Campus with players like Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva provides a priceless education. Whether they are called upon again in the immediate future remains to be seen. Guardiola is known for protecting his young players and rarely throws them into the deep end without preparation. The League Cup, however, offers regular chances, and City’s next fixture in the competition a round of 16 tie against Swansea City in October could represent another opportunity for the brothers to add to their minutes.

Whatever happens next, the night against Huddersfield will remain special. In front of their father, who once carried the hopes of England at major tournaments, the Heskey brothers took their first steps together in the shirt of one of the biggest clubs in world football. It was not a high-scoring classic, nor a game that will live long in the wider memory of Manchester City’s relentless hunt for silverware, but for one family it was a landmark moment, a connection between past and present, and perhaps the beginning of a new Heskey story in English football.