Recently, RC Lens has been on an upward climb — they will play in the Champions League next season despite having been in France’s second tier as recently as 2020. They have accomplished this thanks to strong tactics, a good squad, and, of course, excellent recruitment.
Unlike many other clubs, Lens signs players from around the world. The club’s current squad has 30 players, per transfermarkt.com, and 18 of them are foreign. They could be about to add another exciting talent from abroad — Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
Khusanov left Uzbek side Bunyodkor last year, joining Belarussian side FC Energetik-BGU Minsk. The 19-year-old quickly became a key figure in Minsk, making 27 appearances in his debut season as the club finished 2nd. However, Khusanov’s side was banned from European soccer after they were found guilty of match-fixing, missing out on a chance to play in the Conference League.
While Minsk has struggled this season, things have been much better for Khusanov on the international stage. Uzbekistan has a golden generation right now, with the likes of Khusanov, Umarali Rakhmonaliev, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev giving the national team reason for optimism.
In March, Khusanov and Uzbekistan won the u20 Asian Cup, conceding just one goal all tournament. Two months later, they reached the knockouts of the u20 World Cup but lost in heartbreaking fashion to eventual semi-finalists Israel. On top of that, he made his debut for the senior team in the CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Cup, playing three games as Uzbekistan lost in the final to Iran.
While it may seem like a big move — the Belarussian league is nowhere near the level of Ligue 1 — it’s a good move for all parties. Khusanov gets to play at a high level and develop, while also giving himself a chance to be a starter for the national team. Lens could be saving a lot of money by signing a teenager with the potential to be a world-class defender before he becomes established.
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Image Courtesy of Supporterhéninois, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.