The sons of former professional footballers Emile Heskey and Lee Grant have signed scholarship deals at Manchester City.

Jaden Heskey and True Grant were among 14 youngsters to put pen to paper at the Premier League champions’ academy after successful spells in lower age group teams.

The proud dads posed with their sons as they signed their deals, aiming to follow in their fathers’ footsteps and have successful careers in the game.

Lee Grant’s (top right) son, True (bottom right) has signed a Manchester City scholarship deal

Emile Heskey (top right) posed with his son Jaden (bottom right) as he put pen to paper

All 14 players have been promoted to City’s under 18 side and have begun pre-season training with coach Ben Wilkinson.

Joel Ndala, Jahmai Simpson Pusey, Justin Oboavwoduo, Isaiah Dada-Mascoll, Lakyle Samuel, Michael Okeke, Alfie Harrison, Ashton Muir, Charlie Gray, Ezra Carrington, Sebastian Naylor and Jacob Wright were the other players to sign deals.

City finished top of the Northern U18 Premier League in 2021/22, beating second place Liverpool by 10 points.

They then defeated Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s to lift the overall title.

The players signed their deals at the academy’s scholar signing event, held at the City Football Academy.

It is an annual event held to mark players’ first steps into full-time football and celebrate the milestone moment.

Several key figures at the club were present at the ceremony, including former City forward-now-ambassador Mike Summerbee and managing director of global football Brian Marwood, who presented the players with their scholarship caps.

Academy director Jason Wilcox hosted the event.

Emile Heskey scored 60 goals in 228 games for Liverpool between 2000 and 2004 

Lee Grant (right) spent four years at Manchester City’s local rivals United from 2018 to 2022

Whilst Emile Heskey and Lee Grant are associated with playing for City’s rivals Liverpool and Manchester United respectively, their sons have paved their own way in the game at arguably the country’s best academy.

To an extent, anyway.

Lee Grant, who retired at the end of last season, made over 500 professional appearances as a goalkeeper. Now True is set to line up in goal for City’s U18s.

And the same with the Heskeys. Whilst Emile scored over 150 goals playing up front for the likes of Leicester, England and the aforementioned Liverpool, Jaden is aiming to lead the line for City’s youth team this coming year.

City lifted the trophy in both 2020-21 and 2021-22, and will be aiming to make it three in a row this season.