As Manchester City and Eintracht Frankfurt were negotiating a deal for Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, the club surprised everyone by announcing the signing of Uzbek defender Abdulkadir Khusanov. Lens accepted City’s offer, which totaled around €40 million, including bonuses and incentives. The 20-year-old defender signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the English champions.
Khusanov will become the first player from Uzbekistan to compete in the Premier League. Despite his young age, his physical strength and solid performances have helped him rise quickly through Uzbekistan’s national teams. He has established himself as a key player for his country’s senior team, shining in the last Asian Cup held in Qatar.
Khusanov’s International Achievements
Khusanov led Uzbekistan’s U-20 team to victory in the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup and helped them reach the Round of 16 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina the same year. He also played in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, guiding Uzbekistan to the final, where they narrowly lost to Japan.
The Youngest Uzbek in the Champions League
At the club level, Khusanov started at Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan before joining Energetik Minsk in Belarus at 18. In 2023, Lens signed him for €100,000. He debuted in Ligue 1 on September 16, 2023, against Metz, becoming the first Uzbek to play in the French league. Later that year, he became the youngest Uzbek to feature in the Champions League when Lens faced Arsenal.
Khusanov played 11 matches in Ligue 1 last season and has become a regular starter this season under coach Will Steele. He has featured in 13 of Lens’ 16 league matches, plus two Europa League games and one French Cup match. His contributions have helped Lens maintain one of the best defensive records in Ligue 1, conceding only 15 goals and ranking seventh in the league.
Outperforming City’s Defenders
Manchester City has faced defensive struggles this season, conceding easy goals and losing vital points. To address these issues, Pep Guardiola initiated changes to strengthen his backline.
Khusanov’s defensive stats from this season stand out. He averages 2.58 successful aerial duels per match and 2.4 successful tackles. By comparison, Ruben Dias, who has played the same number of matches in the Premier League, averages 1.49 aerial duels and 0.99 tackles per match. Similar trends apply to Stones and Akanji.
While it might take time for Khusanov to secure a regular spot in City’s lineup, his arrival signals Guardiola’s intent to refresh the squad’s defensive core. Changes in the summer of 2025 could provide the young Uzbek defender with more opportunities to shine.
