Arsenal transfer news: Gunners sign £3.9m 'next Kvaratskhelia' as official statement released

Arsenal have confirmed that they have reached an agreement to sign Georgian wonderkid Andria Bartishvili from second-tier side Kolkheti 1913.

Back in late August, Arsenal were said to have reached a £3.9m agreement for the 17-year-old, considered one of the most promising prospects in Georgian football.

Bartishvili made the move up to first-tier football in January, signing for Iberia 1999 on loan, and he boasts two goals and three assists from 24 matches for the Tbilisi side.

The versatile attacker will return to Kolkheti at the end of the calendar year, after which he will spend another half-season in his homeland - or elsewhere on loan - before moving to the Emirates.

In a statement on Friday, Arsenal announced that Bartishvili would officially become a part of the club next July, a few months after his 18th birthday.

Welcome to The Arsenal, Andria! ?

We are delighted to announce we've reached a pre-contract agreement to sign Georgian forward Andria Bartishvili in July 2027 ❤️

"We are delighted to announce we've reached a pre-contract agreement to sign Georgian forward Andria Bartishvili in July 2027," a statement on arsenal.com read.

"The 17-year-old, who will be 18 when he moves to north London, operates as a winger or attacking midfielder. Everyone at Arsenal looks forward to Andria's arrival next summer and wishes him luck for the rest of this season at Iberia 1999."

Bartishvili - who is understood to have completed his Arsenal medical on transfer deadline day - is expected to link up with the academy team first of all, while potentially putting himself in the frame for senior minutes in 2027-28.

The diminutive attacker - who stands at just 5ft 7in tall - has experience playing as a number 10, false nine, centre-forward, right winger and left winger, and he is competent with both his left and right foot.

At international level, Bartishvili has already made two appearances for Georgia's Under-21s, having previously scored seven goals in 15 matches for the Under-17s.

Having come through the Georgian youth ranks to earn a move to one of Europe's big five leagues, Bartishvili has inevitably drawn comparisons with arguably the greatest player his nation has ever produced; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

A report from Georgian outfit Commersant - at a time when Juventus were trying to sign the winger - highlighted Bartishvili's 'Akhali Kvara' moniker, given to him thanks to direct similarities with the Paris Saint-Germain attacker.

Bartishvili's dribbling skills and positional awareness were likened to Kvaratskhelia, while Georgia Under-21 manager Ramaz Svanadze did not shy away from making the same comparison.

"He is a player who can make a real difference on the pitch," Svandze told football.london, as quoted by Crystal Sport. "He has the kind of individual ball skills that are becoming increasingly rare in modern football; he is a player who wants to receive the ball, leave opponents behind and use his technical dribbling - just like Kvaratskhelia himself."

Arsenal have long been credited with an interest in Kvaratskhelia too, but the 25-year-old remains under contract at PSG until 2029.

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