Abdukodir Khusanov Signs New Five-Year Deal with Manchester City

Manchester City have moved decisively to lock down one of their emerging pillars in defence, with Abdukodir Khusanov signing a new five-year contract on Saturday.

At 22, the Uzbekistan international already has a season of English silverware behind him. He played his part as City lifted both the FA Cup and the League Cup last term and pushed the Premier League title race all the way before finishing second. For a player who only arrived from Lens in January 2025, it has been a rapid rise and a rapid endorsement.

“This is a great day for me and my family. I am really happy to extend my stay at City,” Khusanov said, the relief and ambition obvious. He talked about enjoying “every minute” in Manchester and feeling himself “growing and learning a lot as a player” since the move from France.

The challenge now changes shape. Pep Guardiola has gone; Enzo Maresca is in. Khusanov knows exactly what that means for him.

“I have a new challenge now, which is to impress Enzo Maresca and his staff and ensure I am in his team regularly. I am determined to do that.”

It is a bold statement from a young centre-back who already shoulders plenty of responsibility for club and country. Khusanov has been capped 30 times by Uzbekistan and featured at the World Cup, starting all three of their Group K matches. That experience, under the glare of a global tournament, has hardened him quickly.

City’s hierarchy have seen enough to bet on his trajectory. Director of football Hugo Viana did not hold back in his assessment.

“We’ve been really pleased and impressed by Abdukodir’s development since he arrived in England,” Viana said. “We’re seeing him grow into a brilliant young man and an outstanding defender – but we know this is only the beginning. His physical and technical abilities are top, he has all the assets needed to be a world-class centre-back. At just 22, his best years are all in front of him and his potential to get even better is clear for all to see.”

The numbers support the belief: a long-term deal, five years, tying him to a club that expects to contest every major trophy, every season. City are not in the habit of handing out contracts of that length to squad fillers.

His extension also comes in a week that underlines City’s strategy. Khusanov is the second key figure to commit his future in quick succession after Phil Foden signed a new four-year contract. One is already a homegrown superstar, the other a fast-rising defender from Central Asia. Together, they sketch out the spine of City’s next cycle.

Maresca, stepping into one of the most demanding jobs in world football, inherits not just a winning squad but a club that has moved early to secure its core. If Khusanov continues on his current curve, this could be the deal that quietly shapes City’s back line for years to come.