Khusanov started his soccer journey on the age of seven when he joined the academy of Tashkent-based membership Bunyodkor. He instantly began enjoying with boys two years his senior, such was his expertise and skill to play throughout the pitch.
Nevertheless, at 17 the membership determined he was not robust or bodily sufficient to warrant something greater than a spot within the third-tier reserve group. Khusanov’s father, former Uzbekistan worldwide Hukmat Hoshimov, determined to search for different choices.
That choice got here within the type of Belarusian aspect Energetik-BGU, a small membership from Minsk.
The membership persuaded Khusanov to affix regardless of the actual fact he must wait a yr to make his debut. In Belarus, gamers can’t signal skilled contracts till they flip 18.
As soon as eligible to play, Khusanov’s influence was speedy. By now solely enjoying at centre-back, Khusanov helped Energetik-BGU obtain an inconceivable second-place end within the Belarusian prime flight in 2022.
Whereas Khusanov’s improvement was barely seen by followers again house, his subsequent transfer was linked to his exploits with the Uzbekistan nationwide group. A late call-up to the squad for the AFC Underneath-20 Asian Cup in March 2023, Khusanov performed each minute as his aspect gained a historic title.
Uzbekistan certified for the Underneath-20 World Cup in Could 2023 consequently, the place Lens’ scouting supervisor, Baptiste Favier, watched him because the White Wolves reached the spherical of 16. In July that yr Lens signed him for simply £84,000.
“No one knew of him when he arrived at Lens,” says Luke Entwistle, editor-in-chief of Get French Soccer Information. “He was a massively unknown amount. He did not play an excessive amount of in his first season, however when he did get his probability within the again three, you instantly noticed one thing fairly particular in him.”
This marketing 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 begins.
“If Khusanov got here from a prime league, he would have value €100m,” Danso mentioned, whereas former Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba mentioned: “He has shaken up the hierarchy in our defence. He’s destined for an incredible future.”
Such is the arrogance that Khusanov will turn into probably the greatest gamers on the planet, Lens have stored a signed match-worn shirt of his for his or her membership assortment. It’s a apply reserved for under the best gamers to move by way of the membership.
