Khusanov began his football journey at the age of seven when he joined the academy of Tashkent-based club Bunyodkor. He immediately began playing with boys two years older than him, such was his talent and ability to play all over the court.
However, at 17, the club decided he was not strong or physical enough to warrant anything other than a place in the third division reserve team. Khusanov’s father, former Uzbek international Hukmat Hoshimov, decided to look for alternative options.
This option came in the form of Belarusian club Energetik-BGU, a small club from Minsk.
The club persuaded Khusanov to join despite the fact that he would have to wait a year to make his debut. In Belarus, players cannot sign a professional contract before the age of 18.
Once eligible to play, Khusanov’s impact was immediate. Now playing only in central defense, Khusanov helped Energetik-BGU secure an improbable second place in the Belarusian top-flight in 2022.
While Khusanov’s development was barely noticed by his country’s fans, 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.
As a result, Uzbekistan qualified for the Under-20 World Cup in May 2023, where Lens head of recruitment Baptiste Favier watched as the White Wolves reached the round of 16. In July that year, Lens signed him for just £84,000.
“No one knew him when he arrived in Lens,” says Luke Entwistle, editor-in-chief of Get French Football News. “He was an extremely unknown person. He didn’t play much in his first season, but when he got his chance in the last three, you immediately saw something quite special in him.”
This campaign, Khusanov has disrupted a well-established backline of Jonathan Gradit, Kevin Danso and Facundo Medina to make 13 appearances in Ligue 1, including 11 starts.
“If Khusanov had come from a major league, he would have cost 100 million euros,” Danso said, while former Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba said: “He shook up the hierarchy of our defense. He is destined for a great future.”
With such confidence that Khusanov will become one of the best players in the world, Lens have retained his signed match shirt for their club collection. It is a practice reserved only for the greatest players passing through the club.
