Confirmed: Arsenal sign Georgian prospect Andria Bartishvili

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Georgian teenager Andria Bartishvili, who will officially join the club next summer after he turns 18.

The winger is currently on loan with top-flight side Iberia 1999 but is contracted to second-tier Kolkheti 1913, who will reportedly receive a fee worth up to €4.5 million for his services.

Bartishvili made 19 appearances for Iberia last season as they won the Georgian title and has already gained a taste of European football this term, featuring five times as they attempted to navigate the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and Europa League. Unfortunately, they fell short in both competitions.

A quick, tricky winger who likes to operate from the left, Bartishvili has inevitably been compared to compatriot Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. It’s a fairly lazy comparison at this stage, although there is an interesting Arsenal connection. Kvaratskhelia was scouted for Napoli by Maurizio Micheli, who is now part of Andrea Berta’s recruitment team at the Emirates, before going on to establish himself as one of Europe’s best attackers and earning a big-money move to PSG in 2025.

Whether Bartishvili can get anywhere close to those heights remains to be seen. He was reportedly wanted by a number of clubs, including Liverpool, so Arsenal have clearly moved early to secure a player they believe has significant potential.

For now, there’s little point placing too much expectation on a teenager who won’t even arrive in north London until next year. That said, a pacey, tenacious left-sided attacker certainly wouldn’t go amiss in a squad that has just waved goodbye to Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

But yes, probably best not to get ahead of ourselves.

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