Arsenal have reportedly made a move for young Georgian talent Andria Bartishvili. The Gunners are said to have offered a pre-contract to the 17-year-old starlet, who has drawn comparisons to his compatriot Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Who is Andria Bartishvili?
The attacking midfielder currently plays in his home country. He finished the most recent campaign on loan at Iberia 1999, where he made 11 appearances and scored once in the Georgian top flight. He is contracted to Kolkheti 1913, and has made 17 appearances without scoring for his parent club since breaking onto the scene last year.
A product of the Dinamo Tbilisi youth set-up, Bartishvili made his senior debut in April 2025, becoming the youngest player in the Erovnuli Liga that season at just 16 years and two days old, featuring in Kolkheti’s game against Samgurali. He scored his first senior goal last month for Iberia, the winner in a 1-0 victory over Gagra in May.
International Impact
But it was the international stage where he has really shone. In June last year, Bartishvili was compared to the great Kvaratskhelia, who has become one of the world’s best attackers since his move from Napoli to Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain. In an Under-17s game against Kazakhstan in Qabala, Azerbaijan, he produced a superb individual display, notching two goals.
It led to agent Christian Dzaccardo, who personally recommended Kvaratskhelia to Napoli after seeing him play in Georgia, comparing Bartishvili to the now-PSG winger.
"Recently, a lot of talented players have appeared in Georgia, one of such players is Andria Bartishvili," the Italian agent told Sky Calcio. "This 16-year-old attacking midfielder has the potential to become a great player."
"I saw Khvicha Kvaratskhelia play two years before he moved to Napoli, he was already a phenomenal player. I met him and then recommended him to Napoli. [Kvaratskhelia’s] brother Tornike was born in 2010 and has similar playing skills to Khvicha. He also plays on the left wing, has good dribbling and shooting."
