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Sunday, February 16, 2025

Uzbek Star Khusanov Joins Manchester City

Manchester (TDI): When the English champions Manchester City suffered a shock run of losses recently, soccer fans started guessing what moves coach Pep Guardiola would make to stop their winter slump. No-one anticipated him picking a defender from Uzbekistan.

Abdukodir Khusanov, still only 20 but already with eighteen appearances for the White Wolves, has become Guardiola’s first signing of 2025.

On 11 January, the tall center-back officially joined City in a €40 million (41 million dollars) transfer from the French team FC Lens.

European teams rarely scout Asia for young talent, making Khusanov’s path to the Etihad Stadium truly unconventional.

He started his career in the youth team of local side Bunyodkor, before moving to Belarus in 2022, at the age of eighteen, to play for Energetik-BGU Minsk.

In 2023, Khusanov showcased his skills in the Uzbekistan youth team’s AFC Under-20 Asian Cup victory, where his confident passing and physicality drew Len’s attention.

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There, his confident passing and physicality caught the attention of Lens.

He became a fan favorite in northern France, and the youngest Uzbek footballer to play in the UEFA Champions League.

Khusanov on Radar

It was his strong performances in the French league that put Khusanov on the focus of Europe’s best clubs.

Manchester City beat other English teams to get signed him – but the defender is also vital to his national side.

With the striker Eldor Shomurodov (of Roma) spearheading the attack and Khusanov anchoring the defense, Uzbekistan has emerged as Central Asia’s top team.

The senior team is on course to qualify for 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup in North America.

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Khusanov will be the first footballer from Central Asia to play in the English Premier League.

However, he is not the first Tashkent-born player in the “best league in the world”.

The Nigerian forward Peter Odemwingie spent his early childhood in Tashkent, before playing in the EPL for West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.

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