Khujand have completed the signing of highly-rated Nigerian forward Emmanuel Garuba on a four-month loan from Serbian second-tier club FK FAP Priboj.
Speaking exclusively to Eurasia Football, the player’s agent Ivan Josović believes the 20-year-old has all the attributes to become one of the Vysshaya Liga’s standout attacking players.
“I’m confident he’ll take Tajik football by storm,” Josović said.
“He’s a young player who really knows how to play. He’s exceptionally quick, protects the ball well with his body and can keep possession under pressure. Once Garuba gets into open space, defenders struggle to catch him.
“He came from Africa to Serbia and signed for FAP. The club has now sent him to Khujand on a four-month loan. I’m sure he’ll do very well and help the team.”
Garuba, whose full name is Emmanuel Okoduga Garuba, was born on April 11, 2006, in Nigeria and is capable of playing across the front line.
He arrived in Serbia in late 2024 from Edel FC and initially featured for FAP’s youth team. The Nigerian scored 18 goals during the 2024/25 youth league campaign before earning promotion to the senior squad.
In the summer of 2025, Garuba signed a three-year contract with FAP until 2028. The club, based in Priboj, compete in the Serbian First League, the country’s second tier.
Serbian media have regularly highlighted the youngster’s pace and labelled him one of the club’s brightest prospects.
Garuba’s arrival forms part of a wider squad overhaul ahead of the second half of the Vysshaya Liga season.
Serbian striker Petar Gigić and Belarusian goalkeeper Aleksandr Nechayev have both left the club by mutual consent, while the future of Serbian midfielder Jovan Anđelković remains uncertain.
To replace Nechayev, Khujand have signed 25-year-old Serbian goalkeeper Stefan Ilić until the end of the season. A product of Radnički Niš, Ilić made four appearances for Serbia’s Under-18 national team and most recently played for Radnik Surdulica.
The club have also added 23-year-old Tajik forward Muhammadali Azizboev, while Nikola Milanović the son of head coach Milan Milanović is currently on trial, with a decision on his future expected in the coming weeks.
The 2026 season marks Khujand’s 50th anniversary. The club currently sit sixth in the Tajikistan Higher League with 16 points from 12 matches, nine points behind leaders Istiklol, having played one game more.
However, Khujand remain firmly in contention for the Tajikistan Cup. Milan Milanović’s side eliminated Istiklol 3-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 before beating Vakhsh 1-0 away from home in the first leg of their quarter-final. The return leg will take place on August 7.
Winning the cup would provide the perfect way to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary while also securing qualification for the 2027/28 AFC Challenge League.