Manchester City are on the verge of completing their first signing of the January transfer window, having reached an agreement with French club Lens for the transfer of Abdukodir Khusanov, sources have told ESPN.
Manchester City agree deal for Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov
The 20-year-old Uzbekistan centre-back is set to join Pep Guardiola’s squad in a deal reportedly worth over £40 million.
Khusanov’s representatives are already in Manchester, finalizing the details of the transfer. A medical is expected to take place over the weekend, paving the way for an official announcement early next week.
Abdukodir Khusanov to Manchester City is a done deal, as per @FabrizioRomano.
He’ll join the club for €40m plus add-ons ✍️ pic.twitter.com/PvE6Dzrd9s
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 10, 2025
Should the deal go through, Khusanov will provide much-needed reinforcements to a City defense struggling with injuries to key players like Ruben Dias and John Stones.
Since joining Lens from Energetik-BGU in Belarus just six months ago for a modest €100,000, Khusanov has made a remarkable rise in European football.
His performances in 31 games for Lens have caught the attention of several top clubs, but it is City who have won the race for his signature.
Guardiola is set to integrate the young defender into the first team immediately, given the thin defensive options at his disposal.
For Lens, Khusanov’s transfer represents an incredible profit and a bittersweet moment. The French club had initially hoped to retain him for another six months, but financial realities forced their hand.
Lens missed out on significant transfer fees last summer when moves for Kevin Danso and Neil El Aynaoui fell through. According to sources, super-agent Jorge Mendes played a key role in brokering Khusanov’s high-profile move to the Premier League champions.
City fans will undoubtedly be curious to see how Khusanov adapts to the demands of Guardiola’s system and the Premier League.
For the young Uzbekistan international, the move represents a giant leap in his career, a chance to compete at the highest level and learn under one of football’s most celebrated managers.
As the January window unfolds, Manchester City’s first signing could well set the tone for the rest of their season.