Samba’s son shines for Manchester City as Heskey and Eboue’s boys watch

Five sons of former Barclays‑era Premier League stars are set to break through in 2026, with Christopher Samba’s son scoring twice on his Manchester City debut and the children of Emile Heskey and Emmanuel Eboue also making headlines.

Samba family legacy

When Christopher Samba was a 25‑year‑old centre‑back in the 2008‑09 season, Blackburn Rovers rewarded his “colossal form” with a five‑year contract after signing him for £450,000 from Hertha Berlin. The Lancashire Telegraph called the deal “one of the bargains in Premier League history”.

Samba later left the Rovers for Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala during the period when the club was “making it rain roubles”. Earlier, just after the birth of his son Floyd in January 2009, he even featured as an emergency striker for Blackburn, hinting at attacking genes in the family.

Fast‑forward seventeen years, and Samba Jr is slotting into Manchester City’s squad, netting a brace on his Carabao Cup debut against Norwich. He was deployed as a centre‑forward, a position he had never played before, prompting Enzo Maresca to say, “He is not a nine for sure, but he was good.”

His older brother Tyrone is also progressing through City’s ranks as a forward, adding depth to the club’s youthful contingent.

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Next generation breakthroughs

While Samba Sr was anchoring Blackburn, former Wigan midfielder Jason Koumas was establishing his own legacy. This week, Koumas Sr watched his son Lewis claim the Man of the Match award on his second Liverpool start, after scoring on his debut in the FA Cup against Southampton more than two years earlier under Jürgen Klopp.

Andoni Iraola had insisted in pre‑season that Lewis should remain at Anfield rather than be loaned out again, a stance vindicated as the 20‑year‑old becomes a regular option despite Liverpool’s nearly £500 million‑worth of attacking talent. A total of 907 days separate his first and second appearances for the Reds.

Ben Watson’s son Reggie is forging his own path after his father’s added‑time header secured the 2013 FA Cup for Wigan. Reggie moved from Palace to Chelsea at under‑15 level, started for the Blues in Xabi Alonso’s first pre‑season match, and featured again in a 6‑3 Carabao Cup win over Leeds at just sixteen.

Emmanuel Eboue’s son Mathis, born in Watford while his father was at Arsenal, progressed through the Hornets’ academy before joining Chelsea in 2025. The 17‑year‑old has England under‑16 and under‑17 caps, operates as an inverted left‑winger, and was on Chelsea’s bench at Anfield last May, though he remains estranged from his father.

Emile Heskey’s two sons were enrolled at Manchester City until 18‑year‑old Reigan was sold to Cologne in the summer for £8 million after scoring the winning goal in the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester United. Heskey’s older son Jaden still remains on City’s books, keeping the family name alive at the club.