Tajikistan’s most capped international with 68 appearances, Fatkhulloev joins Csaba László’s side on a one-season deal from Tajikistan League runners-up FC Khujand.

The 11 successful teams - seven of which are linked to professional men’s clubs - came from an initial list of 17 applicants, with the final number of members exceeding initial expectations of between six and 10 teams in the league’s first season.

The most successful club from the existing Nadeshiko League, 17-time national champions Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza, are among the approved WE League members, as are three-time title winners INAC Kobe Leonessa and Urawa Red Diamonds.

Also are included are women’s teams affiliated with professional men’s outfits Mynavi Sendai, JEF United Chiba, AC Parceiro Nagano and Albirex Niigata, with Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Omiya Adrija – who will absorb second-tier FC Jumonji Ventus - to launch new sides.

With 11 cities represented, two former AFC Player of the Year winners and six venues that hosted 2019 AFC Asian Cup matches and a collection of Emirati, Asian and international players on display, the-AFC.com looks at five story lines to follow in the 2020-21 UAE Pro League season.

The new calendar also means that the majority of the 2020-21 season will be played concurrently with the grassroots football season.

The 161 men’s matches will be played over 23 weeks, with the Grand Final set for June, and the women’s 57 games will finish with a Grand Final in April.

Indeed, records fell in 2018 as the AFC Cup's biggest crowd was recorded in Indonesia and Iraq's Air Force Club claimed an unprecedented third title in a row, while the goals flowed from start to finish.

In what is arguably the world's most diverse club football tournament, the next stunning strikes come from West and South Asia as we bring you two more goals that lit up the AFC Cup.

In a departure from our usual weekly poll, we’ve narrowed down the best performers from the various international matches featuring Asian sides over the last week, now it’s up to you to decide who was Asia’s standout player over the international break.

Here are our eight nominees: