Arsenal announce transfer 10 days after summer deadline as 2027 deal confirmed
Young winger Andria Bartishvili will join Arsenal next summer
Arsenal have reached a pre‑contract agreement to sign forward Andria Bartishvili from Georgian side FC Kolkheti‑1913 Poti in July 2027. The 17‑year‑old will complete his move to north London when he turns 18 next year.
Bartishvili, who can operate as a winger or attacking midfielder, underwent a medical at the Sobha Realty Training Centre at the start of the month before returning to Iberia 1999, where he is on loan in the Georgian top flight.
Arsenal are understood to have paid £4million to secure his services.
The club have placed huge emphasis on identifying elite young talent across the globe over the past two years. Irish youth international Victor Ozhianvuna is due to arrive in January from Shamrock Rovers, while Holger and Edwin Quintero will join Bartishvili in the summer of 2027 following their roughly £9m move from Ecuadorian side Independiente.
Bartishvili is the latest talent tipped to become a standout figure in the ongoing rise and evolution of Georgian football. The youngster will turn 18 on March 30 and will move to Emirates Stadium a few months after that.
Last season, he featured in the Georgian side's Champions League and Europa League qualifying matches and has been compared to Kevin De Bruyne by Georgian football expert Saba Sapanadze. He is considered one of the biggest upcoming talents in the country alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's brother, Tornike.
In a statement confirming the deal, Arsenal said : "We are delighted to announce we've reached a pre-contract agreement to sign Georgian forward Andria Bartishvili in July 2027. The 17-year-old, who will be 18 when he moves to north London, operates as a winger or attacking midfielder.
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"Our latest recruit made his Erovnuli Liga debut with Kolkheti in 2025, and at the end of the season, was named the best U17 player in the division. For the 2026 season, Andria moved to Iberia 1999, where he has since scored his first professional goal, netting the winner in a 1-0 win over Gagra in May.
"At international level, Andria has flown through the Georgian youth ranks. Having impressed in his two under-16s appearances, he moved up to the under-17s, where he scored on his debut against Slovenia.
"After an impressive run at under-17s level, the winger moved up to under-18s and quickly under-21s, where he has now made two appearances for Georgia.
"Everyone at Arsenal looks forward to Andria's arrival next summer and wishes him luck for the rest of this season at Iberia 1999. The deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes."
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