Uzbek star: The story of Abdukodir Khusanov in World football

Manchester City has published an article for its fans about Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov, detailing his life and career, childhood, family, and never-before-seen family photos and memories. The article highlights the pride of the Uzbek people in his achievements. Khusanov officially became a Manchester City player shortly before making his debut against Chelsea. At just 20 years old, he was thrust into the first team due to a defensive crisis, leaving Pep Guardiola with no choice but to field a young player who spoke little to no English. By then, Khusanov had already made 31 senior appearances for the club.  

His debut got off to a challenging start. Just three minutes after coming onto the pitch, his misdirected header toward Ederson led to a goal for Chelsea. A minute later, he became the first Uzbek player to make a Premier League appearance—and also received a yellow card.  

Fans and pundits following the match were already familiar with Khusanov. Millions of eyes around the world were fixed on the 20-year-old from Uzbekistan, ready to witness how his debut would unfold.  

With the support of his teammates, City fans, and the manager, Khusanov gradually regained his composure and played the rest of the half with confidence. His debut ended with applause in the 54th minute when he was substituted for John Stones.  

                   Rising star, but not yet a household name  

Before his January 2025 transfer to Manchester City, Abdukodir Khusanov was relatively unknown to many football fans.  

When clubs sign foreign players, YouTube becomes a key resource—users start searching for every available video of the player.  

Those who watched Khusanov’s highlights quickly saw that he was a hardworking, dedicated, and exceptionally fast defender—one who truly loves his job.  

However, he lacked top-level experience and came from a country unfamiliar to many football enthusiasts. While his transfer to Manchester City was surprising, few expected him to make an impact so quickly.  

For Uzbekistan, a country still establishing itself on the global football stage, the fact that an Uzbek international had joined the reigning English champions was a historic moment for both the player and his compatriots.  

To understand Abdukadir’s football journey, we must look back at where it all began. The future City number 45 was born in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, in 2004—a leap year.  

                                 Football runs in his blood  

Abdukodir Khusanov is the son of former Uzbekistan national team player Hikmatjon Khoshimov. However, some may wonder why he does not carry his father’s surname.  

According to Uzbek tradition, children are often given surnames derived from their grandfather’s name. Since Abdukadir’s grandfather was named Husan, his father gave him the surname Khusanov. This tradition remains common in Uzbekistan today.  

Khusanov took his first steps in football at the Bunyodkor academy, one of the most prestigious clubs in Uzbekistan. Internationally, Bunyodkor is best known as the former club of Brazilian football legend Rivaldo, who played 72 matches for the team between 2008 and 2010, scoring 42 goals.  

“Khusanov joined Bunyodkor at the age of seven. Even then, he had incredible speed—he could outrun players one or two years older than him. Speed is a natural talent, and it is very difficult to develop through training,” said his first coach, Sergey Chigodaev.  

For several years, Khusanov played against older players. Despite being born on February 29, 2004, he competed in teams with players born in 2002-2003. According to Chigodaev, although Khusanov was not physically dominant, he developed quickly. As the youngest member of his teams, he had no choice but to adapt and excel.

"It was clear from childhood that Abdukodir had great talent. But talent alone is not enough—success in football requires proper development. Khusanov has talent, hard work, discipline, and a strong upbringing. When I instructed him on the field, he followed my guidance without hesitation. He never argued, always remained humble, and never backed down against older players. Yet, despite his fierce competitiveness, he was always polite. His success—playing for Lens and now Manchester City—has not changed him at all," says his first coach, Sergey Chigodaev.  

                                Rapidly rising talent  

At 17, Khusanov moved to Belarus to join Energetik-BGU. For a year, he only trained and played in friendlies, waiting until he turned 18 to officially compete. In March 2022, he made his debut for the club, nicknamed "Talabalar" ("The Students").  

He quickly became a key player, appearing in 27 out of 30 matches in his first season. Almost always in the starting lineup, he consistently played the full 90 minutes. Despite being a central defender, he contributed three goals and four assists—an impressive feat for a player in his position.  

That summer, Khusanov was called up to Uzbekistan’s U-20 national team, having previously only represented the U-17 squad. In March 2023, he became one of the leaders of Uzbekistan’s youth team at the U-20 Asian Cup in Tashkent.  

Playing every match, he helped lead the team to victory in the tournament. Fittingly, this triumph took place at Bunyodkor Stadium—the very venue where Khusanov made his professional debut. Just two months later, he represented Uzbekistan at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. 

Every top footballer experiences a pivotal moment in their career, and for Khusanov, that moment came at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Originally set to be held in Indonesia, the tournament was relocated to Argentina after Indonesia withdrew as host.  

Uzbekistan was drawn into the same group as Argentina, attracting European scouts who were primarily there to watch Argentine prospects Maximo Perrone, Valentín Carboni, and Matías Soulé. However, despite Uzbekistan’s narrow 1-2 loss, young defender Abdukodir Khusanov caught the attention of the scouts.  

Among those impressed was a representative from French club Lens, along with scouts from Manchester United and several other European teams.

One of the Premier League clubs even approached Khusanov's agent, Gayrat Khasbiullin, expressing strong interest in signing the young defender, believing he would be a perfect fit for their squad. However, the transfer did not materialize.  

A few weeks after the conclusion of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Khusanov signed with Lens. The French club introduced him as “a man with boundless potential from Asia.” The transfer fee was a mere €100,000—an exceptional and profitable investment for Lens.  

"We studied Khusanov carefully before making the transfer. I was amazed at how he played like a 25-year-old, not a 19-year-old. He had the composure and maturity of an experienced player. His technique and physical strength also stood out in training. We have other young talents, but Khusanov always distinguished himself with his calmness and reliability," said Lens head coach Franck Haise.  

In the summer of 2023, Khusanov received his first call-up to the Uzbekistan national team. Following his debut against Oman, he quickly cemented his place in the starting lineup, earning 18 caps for his country so far.  

During his first season at Lens, Khusanov played 15 matches. Though not a regular starter, he consistently delivered solid performances. French sports journalists frequently included him in their "Team of the Week" selections, as compiled by"L'Équipe".  

By the summer of 2024, Khusanov had become a key player for Lens. A fortunate turn of events played in his favor—Austrian defender Kevin Danso was on the verge of moving to Roma, but the transfer fell through due to medical concerns. Although Danso remained at Lens, he was sidelined for treatment, providing Khusanov an opportunity to step up. Despite his relative inexperience, the coach placed his trust in him—and Khusanov delivered.  

In October 2024, he was named "Ligue 1's Best Young Player". By the halfway point of the 2024/25 season, he had played 16 matches, registered one assist, and earned a spot in the symbolic "Team of the Season" for the French league.  

By then, Manchester City had already taken serious interest in him. As soon as the January 2025 transfer window opened, the club moved swiftly to secure Khusanov’s signature—a move widely regarded as a smart and highly profitable acquisition.  

Khusanov’s journey has been anything but conventional. As the first Uzbek player to feature in the English Premier League, an entire nation followed his every move with immense pride. On the field, he was a relentless fighter; off the field, he remained humble and composed.  

Now, Manchester City fans are witnessing the emergence of a new star—a player destined for greatness.