Abdukodir Khusanov becomes a “city player”

The transfer saga that began in December has finally reached its conclusion in mid-January. Abdukodir Khusanov, the talented Uzbek central defender, is now set to play for one of the world’s top football clubs, in the "Premier League", and under one of the greatest coaches in football history. The highly anticipated news was confirmed by renowned Italian football insider Fabrizio Romano on January 11 at 2 a.m. Tashkent time. Khusanov has become the first Uzbek player to compete in the "Premier League", marking a historic milestone for Uzbek football.  

Historic moment for Uzbek football  

With great excitement surrounding this mega transfer, the Sports Digest on QALAMPIR.UZ has highlighted Khusanov’s move as one of the most significant events in the history of Uzbekistan’s football scene.  

Abdukodir Khusanov, a central defender for the Uzbekistan national team, has officially joined "Manchester City", the reigning "Premier League" champions. This major development was reported by Fabrizio Romano on his X (formerly Twitter) page.  

According to Romano, Khusanov signed a 5+1-year contract with "Manchester City". The club reportedly paid €50 million to French club Lens, including bonuses, for the 20-year-old defender.  

For context, "Lens" signed Khusanov from "Energetik BGU" in 2023 for just €100,000. During his time at Lens, he played in 24 matches and recorded one assist. "Bunyodkor", the club that nurtured Khusanov’s talent in Uzbekistan, will receive €1 million from the transfer deal.  

Guardiola’s enthusiasm for the transfer  

"Manchester City"’s legendary coach, Pep Guardiola, has expressed his eagerness to finalize the deal. According to Romano, Guardiola has been a strong advocate for bringing Khusanov to the club, emphasizing the need to complete all formalities swiftly.  

Negotiations between "Lens" and "Manchester City" reached their final stages over recent weeks, with both clubs ironing out the finer details of the agreement. The Uzbek defender’s move has generated immense anticipation, as he prepares to train under Guardiola and compete in the world’s most challenging football league.  

"Manchester City"’s €50 million deal for Abdukodir Khusanov

"Manchester City" will pay €50 million, including bonuses, for the transfer of Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov from French club "Lens". This was reported by football journalist Patrick Berger on his X (formerly Twitter) page.  

The deal includes a 5+1-year contract, meaning the 20-year-old defender will initially sign for five years, with the option to extend the agreement for an additional year by mutual consent.  

Khusanov has played 16 matches for Lens this season, contributing one assist. According to "Transfermarkt", the young defender’s market value is estimated at €12 million. His current contract with Lens was set to run until the summer of 2027.  

“Unrecognized Boys” make their mark on Media Football World Cup  

Last week, the “Unrecognized Boys” team of Uzbek football players made headlines with their remarkable performance in the Media Football World Cup, also known as the “King’s League.” Competing against teams from around the globe, the Uzbek side played four matches, securing two wins and two losses, and emerged as one of the tournament’s top eight teams.  

Despite their success, the team participated without any official support from sports organizations in Uzbekistan. The players funded their own travel, accommodation, and other expenses to attend the tournament.  

Islam Abdujabbarov, the team’s leader, shared that the only assistance came from Alisher Sa’dullayev, the director of the Youth Affairs Agency, who helped resolve some financial issues the team faced in Uzbekistan.  

The team’s struggles are not new. Around five months ago, QALAMPIR.UZ reported that the “Unrecognized Boys” were facing challenges playing football within Uzbekistan due to a lack of recognition from official sports bodies.  

Despite these obstacles, the team defeated Saudi Arabia and Peru in the World Cup, achieving results that some of the most prominent football nations, including Germany, Spain, and Italy, could not. Their accomplishments have cemented their place in history as pioneers of a new chapter for Uzbek football.