Having been born in Germany before growing up in Norway and England, Colin felt equipped to go it alone overseas, and in August 2019 he joined Dutch side NAC Breda.
“Leaving City wasn’t the easiest choice, but it’s one I felt I had to make,” he says. “It was going to be a culture shock and a new challenge, but I’m good at adapting quickly and learning new things.
“And I learned a huge amount in Holland – living by myself, playing in the first team, not speaking the language.
“You have to go in there, take charge and be the man that you are. I learned quickly that it’s all about winning.”
He spent the 2022 season with Norwegian side Lillestrom, before joining Mjallby, a Swedish club that is “not as well-known and sort of in the middle of nowhere”.
“That was probably the best decision I’ve made,” says Colin. “It came at the right time in my career because I could just focus on football.
“I became a leader, played every game and gained even more experience. Then you feel like you have to make that next step. I wanted to push myself, see what I’m made of, and when you’re playing in Sweden and Malmo comes calling, you listen.”
