Al Nasr sign Uzbekistan’s Doston Khamdamov

Khamdamov, 24, has joined the club on a free transfer from Uzbekistan Super League champions Pakhtakor, signing an 18-month contract, according to details revealed by Al Nasr.

The midfielder will be tasked with helping the Dubai-based club back into continental football. They currently sit third on the UAE Pro League table with 24 points from 12 matches.

Khamdamov’s move ends a highly productive two-year spell at Pakhtakor, who won every major trophy on offer in Uzbekistan, and reached the last eight of the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2009.

He previously starred for fellow Tashkent club Bunyodkor and enjoyed a brief stint in the Russian Premier League with Anzhi Makhachkala from 2018 to 2019.

A regular fixture in the Uzbekistan national team, Khamdanov has appeared 18 times for the White Wolves, and won the AFC U23 Championship in China in 2018. He was also voted AFC Young Player of the Year in 2015.

Khamdamov is the latest big name signing to have joined Al Nasr in the last six months. Prolific striker Sebastián Tagliabúe joined the club along with Ryan Mendes in July, before star Israeli attacking midfielder Dia Saba arrived in September.

Ironically, Khamdamov was part of the Pakhtakor side which eliminated Al Nasr from the 2019 AFC Champions League, playing 73 minutes as the Uzbek side prevailed 2-1 in a play-off fixture.