Manchester City has gone to the January transfer market with the clear intention of strengthening its defense… and with a lot of money under its arm. In addition to Vitor Reis (he arrives for 40 million from Palmeiras), the ‘sky blue’ club has acquired Abdukodir Khusanov. The young Uzbek center back (20 years old) arrives from Lens for a figure, according to unofficial sources, that is around 50 million euros and signs a contract until 2029.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City, a club I have enjoyed watching for a long time. This team is full of the best players in the world and I can’t wait to meet them and play alongside them. And, of course, Pep Guardiola is one of the best coaches of all time and I am very excited to learn from him and improve my game even more,” declared the Uzbek.
I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City, a club I have enjoyed watching for a long time.
Abdukodir Khusanov
The player from Tashkent, international for Uzbekistan, has taken a leap that he surely did not expect a couple of years ago. Nor would Lens have imagined such a revaluation. The Gauls signed him in 2023 from Energetik-BGU of the Belarusian league… for just 100,000 euros!
Kushanov, 1.86 meters tall and with tremendous command of the aerial game, established himself this year as a starter for the northern French team. He is impressive on the court, a tremendous winner of duels. Against PSG, in Coupe, he scored… and began to arouse the interest of the main clubs in Europe. But Lens has anticipated everyone by paying a million.
Khusanov’s data this season. DRIBLAB.
The Uzbek defender, key in the almost unblemished path that his country is taking towards the 2026 World Cup, has been able to establish himself in the elite despite being barely 20 years old. His former coach in France, Will Still, defined him in various interviews as someone who was shy. In the locker room they called him ‘Kodir’, and he follows in the footsteps of his father, who was also international for Uzbekistan.
With these signings, Guardiola reinforces a defense battered by injuries. Rúben Dias and Stones have been out intermittently, Gvardiol has almost always had to play as a left back… in addition, they are signing prospects who can have a long future career at City.