In an era dominated by social media and extensive football coverage, Manchester City's latest signing stands out as a refreshing throwback. Abdukodir Khusanov, a 20-year-old defender from Uzbekistan, has completed a £33.6m move from French club Lens, marking a historic moment as he prepares to become the first player from his nation to grace the Premier League.
The young center-back's journey to the top of European football reads like a classic underdog story. Starting at age seven in the academy of Bunyodkor, a club in Tashkent, Khusanov showed early promise by competing with older players. However, at 17, he faced rejection from his childhood club, deemed not physically strong enough for anything beyond their third-tier reserve team.
This setback led to an unexpected detour through Belarus, where Energetik-BGU, a small club from Minsk, saw potential in the young defender. Despite having to wait a year before making his professional debut due to age restrictions, Khusanov's impact was immediate. He played a crucial role in helping the club secure an impressive second-place finish in the Belarusian top flight in 2022.
His breakthrough on the international stage came during the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup in March 2023, where he played every minute in Uzbekistan's historic title victory. This performance caught the eye of Lens' scouting manager, Baptiste Favier, leading to a bargain £84,000 transfer to the French club.
At Lens, Khusanov quickly proved his worth. "Nobody knew of him when he arrived," says Luke Entwistle, editor-in-chief of Get French Football News. "But when he got his chance in the back three, you immediately saw something quite special in him." His impact was so significant that teammate Kevin Danso remarked, "If Khusanov came from a top league, he would have cost €100m."
Nicknamed "The Train" in his homeland, Khusanov has earned high praise for his physical attributes and playing style. "He's a powerful defender known for his strong interceptions, aerial ability, and aggressive style," according to Thomas Bullock, a Football Manager researcher specializing in Central Asian football. His standout quality is his pace, which allows him to recover quickly and track fast attackers.
However, experts caution that Khusanov isn't a quick fix for City's defensive challenges. French football journalist Julien Laurens notes on BBC 5 Live Euro Leagues podcast, "He is very talented but City are buying the potential. He is not ready to start every week. City hope they are getting the centre-back of the future."
Khusanov's rise reflects broader developments in Uzbek football. The country has seen significant investment in football infrastructure over the past decade, including improved facilities and youth academies. This development is already bearing fruit, with several young talents making their mark in European football and the national team showing promising signs in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
As SPORTS.uz journalist Suhrob Xolbekov puts it, "It was a dream for every Uzbek a few years ago. It was common to laugh at Uzbek football - now Khusanov has destroyed this." His move to Manchester City not only represents a personal triumph but also symbolizes the growing strength of football in Uzbekistan.
