Al-Emana Baghdad Club announced today, Wednesday, its official contract with Uzbek defensive midfielder Bahtiyor Qosimov, coming from the Uzbek club Kokand 1912, in a deal that is considered a precedent in the history of the league, as Qosimov will be the first Uzbek player to play professionally in the Iraqi Premier League.

Qosimov is considered one of the well-known names in Uzbek football, having previously represented several prominent clubs in his country such as Surkhon Termiz, AGMK, Qizilqum, Andijan, and finally Kokand, from which he moved to Iraq. He also had an overseas experience in the Gulf region, where he played in the Qatari league with Al-Khor Club, giving him international experience to add to his professional record.

Qosimov plays as a defensive midfielder and is distinguished by his ability to connect play lines and perform defensive and physical roles, making him an important option for the Baghdad team in a season where they aim to make a strong impact.

The management of Al-Emana Baghdad sees this deal as a step towards opening up to the Asian market and expanding the base of foreign options, especially since the Iraqi league has become an attractive destination for many talents after the high competitive level it has shown in recent seasons.