Manchester City is reportedly closing a deal with Lens for 20-year-old Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov. The transfer chatter has spread across social media as executives edge toward a medical examination and a contract that would bind the player through 2029, with a price tag around 40 million euros.
Lens is said to have allowed Khusanov to travel for a medical in Manchester as part of the formalities of the agreement. If the medical clears, the deal would be formalized with a long-term contract through 2029 and a transfer fee set at 40 million euros.
Interest from other top clubs has emerged around the 20-year-old defender. Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Juventus of Turin, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Tottenham have all monitored his progress, weighing him as a potential future addition to their squads.
This season in Ligue 1, Khusanov has appeared in 13 league matches, contributing in limited fashion on the pitch. He arrived at Lens in 2023 from Energetika-BGU, a Belarusian club, where his professional development began and drew the attention of scouts across Europe.
In spring 2022, FIFA and UEFA, following recommendations from the IOC, suspended Russia’s national team and all Russian clubs from competitions under their jurisdiction. As a result, Russian players missed the 2022 World Cup playoffs and the tournament itself, as well as the 2024 European Championship in Germany, and Russia was barred from the 2026 World Cup.
Earlier reports suggested that Zenit could sign a Brazilian talent, a thread that runs alongside Khusanov’s transfer story as several big clubs seek young defenders to bolster their squads.