Premier League giants Manchester City have strengthened their defense with the signing of 20-year-old Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov from French club Lens.
The deal, reportedly worth €40 million plus add-ons, marks City’s first signing of the January transfer window.
Khusanov, who joined Lens from Belarusian club Energetik-BGU for a mere €100,000 last year, has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the reigning champions.
He is set to become the first Uzbek player to feature in the Premier League.
City, currently 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, have been actively seeking to bolster their squad after a disappointing first half of the season.
The club is also close to finalizing a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush.
City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, hailed Khusanov as “a really exciting signing,” emphasizing his intelligence, strength, aggression, and speed.
The young defender expressed his excitement at joining a squad of world-class players and learning from Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers in football history.
City are also expected to complete the signing of 19-year-old Brazilian defender Vitor Reis from Palmeiras for a fee of €35 million.
