Uzbekistan defender Behruz Karimov joins Swiss club Lugano

Uzbekistan's national team defender Behruz Karimov, a rising star in Asian football, has officially joined Swiss club Lugano. The 19-year-old, born in August 2007, inked a contract with the historic Swiss club, which has won the Swiss Super League three times and the Swiss Cup four times.

Karimov's talent was on full display during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he started in Uzbekistan's matches against Colombia and Portugal. His performances have earned him recognition as one of Asia's most promising young footballers. A recent assessment by the CIES Football Observatory, evaluating players under 19, ranked Karimov second among Asian players in his position.

His football journey began at the Odil Junior academy before moving to Olympic in Tashkent. He later joined Surkhon in Termez in February 2025. Karimov quickly established himself in the Uzbekistan league, leading to his national team call-up. Lugano, a club founded in 1908, finished third in the 2025/26 Swiss Super League, securing a spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds.

This move follows another Uzbekistan defender, Jakhongir Urozov, joining Russian club Rubin Kazan on loan. Urozov, 22, also featured in the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches against Colombia and DR Congo.