Report: Man City complete €40M deal for Lens defender Khusanov

Manchester City reached a €40-million deal with Lens on Friday to sign promising Uzbeki center-back Abdukodir Khusanov, sources told The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Khusanov will reportedly sign a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League champions.

The 20-year-old defender has made just 31 appearances for Lens across one-and-a-half seasons. He played for Belarusian side Energetik-BGU prior to his move to France.

Lens paid just €100,000 to acquire him in July 2023.

City manager Pep Guardiola might end up starting Khusanov sooner rather than later. Injuries to John Stones and Ruben Dias have left Guardiola with just three other senior center-backs in his squad. Two of those players, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, have been in and out of the lineup this season.

City are in sixth place in the Premier League and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more than their rivals.