Abduqodir Xusanov: Uzbekistan's mark in the Premier League. Here's what The Times says about the high-profile transfer.

On Saturday, 20-year-old Khusanov made his debut in the starting lineup during the match against Chelsea, where he made a mistake in the second minute that led to a goal, and received a yellow card in the fourth minute. He was substituted in the 54th minute.

Khusanov's debut against Chelsea was challenging, but the team's head coach, Josep Guardiola, supported the newcomer.

“He doesn’t speak English, so I haven’t communicated with him. He will be fine. He has only had one or two training sessions. Any player can make a mistake. Fans always support new players. He is so young. He will learn,” said Josep Guardiola after the match.

The 20-year-old defender transferred from Lens to Manchester City on January 20. In the current season, Khusanov played 16 matches for Lens across all competitions, contributing one assist. His contract with Manchester City runs until the summer of 2029.

Recently, the British newspaper The Times published an extensive interview with Uzbek football official Dilshod Ruzmetov, the founder of the sports agency RD Sport Agency, who represented the Uzbekistan Football Association in Europe for a long time. Ruzmetov noted that Khusanov's transfer to one of the strongest leagues in the world—the English Premier League—opens new opportunities for Uzbek players.

Khusanov's Impressive Journey

Khusanov's football journey began at Bunyodkor. His father, Hikmat Khoshimov, was always present at the youth matches of the Tashkent club, which will now receive £1.7 million for its contribution to the player's development.

Khusanov's move to Lens occurred after the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he impressed scout Baptiste Faivre during a match against Argentina. Faivre was taken aback by the young defender's performance, who contained Alejo Veliz—the forward who later signed with Tottenham Hotspur.

The French club acquired Khusanov for a symbolic £84,000, making it one of the club's most successful deals. However, the player's rapid development and versatility caught the attention of Manchester City, which did not hesitate to spend £42 million to sign him.

While the name Abdulkadir may be unfamiliar to British fans, it holds significant popularity in Uzbekistan. According to Dilshod Ruzmetov, the name “Abdulkadir” translates from Arabic as “a servant who can do everything.” It symbolizes faith, loyalty, and strength—qualities that have helped Khusanov overcome all hardships on his path to success.

Now, Khusanov is ready to showcase his talents at one of the world’s top clubs and prove that Uzbekistan can nurture high-class professionals.

A New Era for Uzbek Football

The editorial team at UzNews.uz reached out to the football official to inquire about the prospects this transfer may create for Uzbek football in the future.

“This transfer makes Uzbek football more recognized worldwide and can serve as a great ‘window to Europe’ for other Uzbek footballers. It’s an opportunity to show the world that Uzbekistan can produce high-class professionals,” he stated.

Ruzmetov emphasized that Khusanov can become a role model for the younger generation.

“I hope this transfer inspires our young players and demonstrates that everything is possible in football. Uzbekistan has already shown a high level of youth teams, and talents like Khusanov prove that we can compete on the international stage.”

The high level of youth teams showcases how competitive the talents in Uzbekistan are. They span age categories from U23 down to very young teams. There are already several players under 17 making their first steps in European football.

One such bright young talent is Khayrulloh Ergashov, who plays for the youth team of the German giant Eintracht. As a U17 player, he is already competing in the U19 league and making significant strides in European football.

“I think it won’t be long before we see the next star from Uzbekistan moving to a top European club,” added Ruzmetov.