Abdukodir Khusanov, a defender for the Uzbekistan national football team and Manchester City, has been named Asia’s Best Young Footballer of 2025, capping a breakthrough year for the 21-year-old.
Khusanov became the first Uzbek player to debut in the English Premier League after joining Manchester City in January and has since made nine appearances for the reigning English champions. His rise has also been marked by international success, playing a key role as Uzbekistan secured historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup.
The award places Khusanov ahead of leading young talents from across Asia, while his growing reputation has earned wider recognition. He was recently ranked among the world’s top 100 footballers by The Athletic, and reports have linked him with interest from Real Madrid, underlining his emergence as one of Asia’s most promising defensive talents.
Kusiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Ergashev will face Kazakhstan’s Batyrzhan Jukembayev in a junior welterweight clash on May 9 in Tashkent.
