Khusanov began his football journey at the age of seven when he joined the academy of Tashkent-based club Bunyodkor. He immediately started playing with boys two years his senior, such was his talent and ability to play across the pitch.
However, at 17 the club decided he was not strong or physical enough to warrant anything more than a place in the third-tier reserve team. Khusanov’s father, former Uzbekistan international Hukmat Hoshimov, decided to look for alternative options.
That option came in the form of Belarusian side Energetik-BGU, a small club from Minsk.
The club persuaded Khusanov to join despite the fact he would have to wait a year to make his debut. In Belarus, players cannot sign professional contracts until they turn 18.
Once eligible to play, Khusanov’s impact was immediate. By now only playing at centre-back, Khusanov helped Energetik-BGU achieve an improbable second-place finish in the Belarusian top flight in 2022.
While Khusanov’s development was barely noticed by fans back home, his next move was linked to his exploits with the Uzbekistan national team. A late call-up to the squad for the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup in March 2023, Khusanov played every minute as his side won a historic title.
Uzbekistan qualified for the Under-20 World Cup in May 2023 as a result, where Lens’ scouting manager, Baptiste Favier, watched him as the White Wolves reached the round of 16. In July that year Lens signed him for just £84,000.
“Nobody knew of him when he arrived at Lens,” says Luke Entwistle, editor-in-chief of Get French Football News. “He was a massively unknown quantity. He didn’t play too much in his first season, but when he did get his chance in the back three, you immediately saw something quite special in him.”
This campaign Khusanov has disrupted a settled backline of Jonathan Gradit, Kevin Danso and Facundo Medina to make 13 appearances in Ligue 1, 11 of them starts.
“If Khusanov came from a top league, he would have cost €100m,” Danso said, while former Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba said: “He has shaken up the hierarchy in our defence. He is destined for a great future.”
Such is the confidence that Khusanov will become one of the best players in the world, Lens have kept a signed match-worn shirt of his for their club collection. It is a practice reserved for only the greatest players to pass through the club.
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