Manchester City have revealed their first two signings of the January transfer window but most fans will be unfamiliar with the names Khusanov and Reis, so who are they and why is the club so excited about the new defensive duo?
While Man City still have a couple of other deals in the pipeline (at least one of which looks to be close to completion) the acquisition of centre-backs Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis is important for two main reasons.
For starters, Pep Guardiola has been looking to bolster his defensive ranks for a while now given recurring injuries and the imminent departure of Kyle Walker. Secondly, it’s always a big win to have beaten the competition in the race to sign two prospects who have been on the radar of several clubs.
Perhaps it’s best to first start with Khusanov and why his arrival not just at the Etihad but in England is significant, as Khusanov is the first Uzbekistan to ever represent Manchester City and play in the Premier League full stop. Historic.
Speaking in his first interview as a Blue, Khusanov declared: “This is not just for me but for Uzbekistan. The first Uzbek in the Premier League but I’m sure this is only the beginning. More Uzbek players will come and play here.
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“There’s growing interest in football in Uzbekistan. For this reason, everybody there wants to qualify for the World Cup, we are just one stop away from qualifying.”
Born in February 2004, he’s already enjoyed 18 caps for his national team and is backed to be one of the future stars within a new generation looking to put their country on the footballing map.
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A scout’s dream
Joining from RC Lens on a £33.6 million deal plus add-ons until 2029, the Uzbek centre-back was only picked by the Ligue 1 club relatively recently, having made the switch from Belarusian team Energetik-BGU for just £84,000 a little over 18 months ago.
Fast forward to Monday, 21 January and he has now found himself in the most competitive league in the world and that’s no accident: Khusanov has already impressed the European scene with his natural strength, aerial presence, pace, ball control and timed tackling, just to name a few standout traits.
It didn’t take long for his exploits at Lens to be noticed by scouts, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United said to have been two of his earliest suitors; Man City and Leicester followed soon after along with other names from around the continent such as PSG, RB Leipzig and Atlético Madrid.
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Having made 16 club appearances this season and scored his first goal in the French Cup against PSG – one which nearly saw them advance to the next were it not for penalties – he was bound to be snapped up by someone but CFG made sure they were first. But what about his fellow new arrival?
As for fellow youngster Vitor Reis, he’s another promising centre-half prospect signed from Brazilian club Palmeiras for a reported fixed fee of £29.4m.
The 19-year-old arrives in the Premier League from his boyhood club which he’s been at since the age of 11, having recently broken into the first team and making 22 senior appearances across all competitions. He only made his debut back in June 2024.
Donning the 22 shirt, he is already drawing early comparisons with new teammate Rúben Dias at his age which will be music to era City supporters’ ears given how crucial the now 27-year-old deputy has been to their success since 2020.
Hyping the youth product up, the head of Palmeiras’ academy, Joao Paulo Sampaio, said: “Technique, speed, courage, you name it. Tactically, he’s a leader and understands the game like few others. And his mental strength is a joke. The kid is complete.”
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Big words indeed.
As for Reis, he highlighted that he’s been a captain since he was little and when City called, there was no doubt. He also went on to insist that he’ll be a good fit for the system, adding: “They like to play with a lot of possession, I also like to play that way […] every kid that loves football is certainly watching Manchester City.”
We think it’s safe to say Blues can be understandably buzzing with the deals done so far.
Judging by what those in the know are saying about these two players, it looks like both Khusanov and Reis have everything you want in a defender on paper, at least. How they take to life at the Etihad and to the English game, we’ll have to wait and see.
Fabrizio Romano has also reported that a verbal agreement has been reached for another defender in Juma Bah from Real Valladolid, though it is believed he will be loaned to RC Lens following the Khusanov transfer. Regardless of the ongoing FFP and PSR investigations, City aren’t shying away from business.
Featured Images — Supporterhéninois(via Wikimedia Commons)/Manchester City
Sport
Pep Guardiola divides fans after naming ‘best player’ during Man City’s collapse against Real Madrid
Danny Jones
Pep Guardiola has sparked some debate among Manchester City fans after naming Ederson the “best player” on the pitch during their defeat against European heavyweights Real Madrid.
City took the leak against the increasingly familiar Champions League foes with an impressive team move finished off by Erling Haaland following a rocky start to proceedings, but an answer back from fellow phenom Kylian Mbappe saw the team draw level just after half-time and the game opened up even more.
It looked as though the Blues had avoided further late drama after Stockport’s very own Phil Foden earned them a crucial penalty and Haaland once again dispatched it, but it wasn’t to be as former City product Brahim Diaz made an immediate impact off the bench to score against his old club.
The goal came from a stray Ederson kick-out and then bad went to worse as it often does in football and the decision to come early and try to close down Vinicius Jr. saw him chipped by the Brazilian and Jude Bellingham tap home the winner in the 92nd minute. A beyond painful end for the home fans.
It was another midweek capitulation as not only is it the first time they’ve come undone against the 15-time champions but it also felt like a repeat of the same story for much of this season.
Man City haven’t just been off their usual formidable form in the Premier League, currently sitting fifth in the table, but they seem to have a consistent issue in the UCL: that being letting in late goals.
The collapse against the Spanish giants made it seven goals conceded in the last 15 minutes throughout the tournament so far this season, facing a total of 20 shots from the La Liga leaders on Tuesday night alone – the most of any team visiting the Etihad in any competition since Pep arrived.
Injuries have caused plenty of defensive problems for sure but the recent rotation of goalkeepers has also caused even more uncertainty in the backline, it would seem, and Ederson’s return between the sticks has already been a point of contention among some fans.
The 31-year-old had an up-and-down game, to put it mildly, having nearly given away a penalty in the opening 10 minutes were it not for an offside flag, before going on to make a number of key blocks in the first half as Madrid piled on early pressure.
As it turns out, his performance was so defiant for the majority of the game that Pep made a point of beginning his post-match interviews by singling out Ederson as the “best player” against a dangerous Madrid team, even despite his mistakes. You can see his press conference in full here:
Is Pep right – was Ederson the best City player against Madrid even despite his mistakes? Or is he just protecting his team?
It’s fair to say the comment has sat so well with everyone, with one fan writing: “Ederson has actually cost us so many UCLs. They want me to give him credit for kicking the ball”; another said: “Ederson has single-handedly manipulated Manchester City today. Such a brilliant matchplan was ruined by that idiot.”
A third simply wrote, “Ederson, man. He’s finished”. On the other hand, even an opposition fan did side with Pep’s defence of the player, pointing out that “Mbappe and Bellingham would have scored at least two goals each if not for his wonderful saves” earlier in the game.
It’s also worth noting that City have conceded not just the most goals of any side in this year’s Champions League thus far but more in 38 games in all comps this season (56) than they did in 59 games last term (54), and while Ederson hasn’t been in net the whole time, he is still the first choice.
Regardless, the Manchester club have a lot of work to do if they are to make it past Carlo Ancelotti’s side on their home turf in the decider of the playoff tie next Wednesday, 19 February. Will Ederson remain in net or will Guardiola turn to Stefan Ortega this time? We’ll have to wait and see.
You can watch the highlights from the dramatic first leg down below.
The legendary Harlem Globetrotters are coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
One of the most iconic teams to ever walk the Earth, the Harlem Globetrotters, are coming to Manchester city centre for an forgettable night of basketball and entertainment.
Announcing a 2025 UK tour, Harlem’s finest crossing the Atlantic to visit a select few British cities and we’re very lucky to be one of them.
Soon set to land on the court and the big stage at AO Arena this Spring, expect big players, and even bigger crowd and a fantastic atmosphere.
Approaching their momentous 100th anniversary in 2026, the Harlem Globetrotters have contributed massively to the global growth of basketball over the decades.
They might be a household name over in America but it’s a true privilege getting to see them overseas, especially here in our hometown.
Now a fully fledged exhibition team still creating memories all over, they continue to be one of the most entertaining basketball brands on the planet.
Famed not only for popularising the slam dunk, the fast break, the forward and point guard positions and the sport’s well-known figure-eight drill, they changed the face of the game forever and now you can see them doing what they do best in one of the UK most legendary arenas.
Experience the thrill of the Harlem Globetrotters live in action as they showcase breathtaking basketball innovation and plenty of fanfare to boot.
Here’s a little teaser of what’s to come:
From mind-boggling trick shots to expert ball-handling skills, every game promises excitement and laughter. Set to take on their arch nemsis, the Washington Generals, they’re set dribble, spin, slam and dunk their way past the competition.
But we’re not just talking a single game – this event is all about interaction.
Prepare for a proper fan experience like never before as the crowd becomes just as an integral part of the excitement as the players do. There’ll be the one of the best dunk contests you’ll ever see, exclusive pre, post and in-game fan engagement opportunities, a Halftime Skills Showcase and plenty more.
In addition to plenty of atmosphere created by the dedicated DJ, not to mention plenty of slapstick comedy and general showmanship throughout (they do it all, these lot), the audience will be given multiple chances to see the Globetrotters extraordinary talents up and close and personal.
For instance, make sure you don’t miss the ‘5th Quarter’ after the buzzer as people will be giving all access to a Globetrotter Meet and Greet, where every fan is invited down to the court for an autograph from their favourite Harlem Globetrotter stars.
Best of all, this a high energy family friendly for people of all ages and walks of life to enjoy.
Set to arrive at the AO Arena on 23 April before they travel across the rest of the world, the Harlem Globetrotters are made for a sport-loving Manchester crowd.
Danny Jones -
21st January 2025 
