The 24-year-old Ismailov put pen to paper before joining the AFC Champions League Group B hopefuls on their training tour of the UAE.

AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov, Timur Kapadze and Anvar Soliev left the ACL ever-presents for Bunyodkor before the start of 2008 season and last year Uzbekistan international goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov also switched to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side.

Even Bunyodkor assistant coach Mirdjalol Kasimov also made his name as a Pakhtakor player before taking up coaching in two-time domestic champions.

Ismailov has earned a reputation for himself with several brilliant performances for Uzbek Cup winners Pakhtakor and the national team.

He was part of Uzbekistan national team’s four 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and Pakhtakor’s AFC Champions League campaign where they played nine matches.