Khusanov's transfer to Manchester City confirmed

Recent reports have claimed that RC Lens have accepted Manchester City’s £33.5 million bid for Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov. This would make the 20-year-old the first-ever player to represent Uzbekistan in the Premier League and here’s why - with the deal days from being announced - this news is massive for a nation looking to break into the footballing world…

🚨🔵 Abdukodir Khusanov to Man City, here we go! Deal in place for €40m fixed fee plus add-ons.

RC Lens accept proposal and approve medical tests to take place next days.

Contract until June 2029 plus option for further season.

✅ Exclusive story from December, confirmed. pic.twitter.com/HynpB8Szar

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 10, 2025

A bit of background on the young starlet

Khusanov or ‘Kodir’ as his teammates call him was born on the 29th of February 2004 (yes, a leap year) in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent. The city itself is the most populous in Central Asia and is a growing tourist location with over 3 million people currently living there. He played youth football for one of Tashkent’s four top-flight teams in the 2024 season, FC Bunyodkor, before joining Belarusian side FC Energetik-BGU Minsk.

In Belarus, he began to play senior football aged 18, but after less than 16 months at the club, European scouts discovered his talent. His destination of choice was French club RC Lens, who bought him for a miniscule £84,000 making his transfer to City an incredible piece of business. Just over a year after he was included in the list of the most promising players in the world according to the International Center for Sports Research, Khusanov became the first Uzbek to play in Ligue 1. He created even more history when he lined up against Arsenal in the Champions League group stage to become the youngest Uzbek to play in any UEFA competition aged 19.

Top 🔟 U21 full defence centre backs as per CIES powered by Wyscout:

1️⃣ 🇺🇿 Abdukodir Khusanov (20, CB) - RC Lens.
2️⃣ 🇮🇹 Pietro Comuzzo (19, CB) - Fiorentina.
3️⃣ 🇧🇪 Matte Smets (20, CB) - KRC Genk.
4️⃣ 🇧🇷 Vitor Reis (18, CB) - Palmeiras.
5️⃣ 🇪🇸 Cristhian Mosquera (20, CB) -… pic.twitter.com/jZSe4DIGEe

— Pro Future Stars (@ProFutureStars1) December 23, 2024

Khusanov's time at RC Lens

Whilst Kodir spent most of his first season in Northern France on the bench, he has become a first-team regular this season. Currently shining under Will Still’s management, the Uzbekistan international was only given a chance because former starting centre half Kevin Danso was advised not to play football whilst an underlying heart condition of his was under investigation.

Khusanov is a wall in defense 🇺🇿🧱 pic.twitter.com/3PsgHHm1Bi

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 10, 2025

His statistics this season might hint at why Guardiola and Co. are after the youngster, as he currently has 2.41 interceptions per 90, the highest average in the league for players who have played over 10 games. He also has 43 progressive passes and 57 clearances.

Why he is being brought to the Premier League

Comparing him to his new Manchester City teammates - John Stones, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji - after 13 league games this season Khusanov has more tackles, interceptions, aerial duels and possession won in the defensive third (all per 90 statistics). And with Kyle Walker looking set to be on his way out, Khusanov is bound to have some sort of involvement in the first team in the upcoming months.

🇺🇿 Abdukodir Khusanov (Lens, 20)
📊 vs Top 5 League U21 Centrebacks

🥇 Tackles — 1st
🥇 Defensive actions — 1st
🥈 Defensive duels won % — 2nd
🥈 Interceptions (PAdj) — 2nd
🥉 Blocked shots — 3rd
🥉 Progressive passes — 3rd

👉 https://t.co/v16debgZqJ pic.twitter.com/HVfybfIj21

— DataMB (@DataMB_) November 29, 2024

Due to injuries, Guardiola has been forced to play with eight different centre-back partnerships this term. Both Stones and Dias remain unavailable via injury, with the former not expected to return to action for some time. Therefore Khusanov’s pace and power will provide useful cover to turn to, with the youngster not expecting to be a first-team regular immediately.

What it means for Uzbekistan nationally and globally

118 FIFA-registered nations have been represented in the Premier League, the most recent being Bangladesh after Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury switched his allegiance in December 2024. The Asian Football Confederation is one of the largest, with 46 FIFA-recognised members, yet only 11 member nations have had representatives in the Premier League.

If Abdukodir Khusanov joins Manchester City, he could become the first Uzbek player to feature in the Premier League.

He would become part of an exclusive club...https://t.co/TACxICpvdB pic.twitter.com/beluQlaMxl

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) January 10, 2025

Kodir has become the first name on the team sheet in the last 12 months, hardly missing a full 90 for Uzbekistan anymore. As of now, he has made 18 appearances for the national team including 10 in their current 2026 World Cup qualifiers. At his rate of development, the 20-year-old could easily be set to gain over 100 caps for his nation, writing even more Uzbek folklore.

The journey of the Uzbekistan National Team might only date back to 1992, making the FIFA-recognised nation the same age as the Premier League, but the country has a footballing history dating back to the beginning of the 20th century as part of the Soviet Union. That includes international players and football teams based in cities like Kokand, Ferghana, Andijan, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Urganch.

Abdukodir Khusanov 🇺🇿 clocked a 37 km/h peak in the league this season 🤯

Potentially our fastest CB ever 🔥
pic.twitter.com/O5CSeUrtU4

— City Chief (@City_Chief) January 10, 2025

On a personal level, the nation has had modern-day success in tournaments like the Asian Games, AFC Asian Cup and CAFA Nations Cup, but is still yet to make an appearance at the world’s biggest games. That looks set to change though as Uzbekistan currently occupy one of the top two spots in their third-round qualifying group, meaning if they stay there after the four remaining games they will automatically qualify for the expanded 2026 World Cup tournament. Currently three points clear in second of their group rivals Qatar and UAE, Khusanov is leading his nation’s backline towards a historical first for the Central Asian nation. Not only that but he is also setting an example for other youngsters from unrepresented nations, inspiring them to take a similar, unconventional journey that he has been on to the top.