Andria Bartishvili: Arsenal confirm signing of 17-year-old wonderkid on pre-contract agreement | OneFootball

The so-called ‘next Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’ touches down at Colney

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Andria Bartishvili on a pre-contract agreement, with the highly-rated Georgian forward due to join up next summer.

Still just 17 years old, Bartishvili is presently on loan at Georgian club Iberia 1999, where he is enjoying his first taste of top-flight football. His parent club, Kolkheti 1913, operates Georgia’s second tier.

The young forward flew to London two weeks ago to complete his paperwork and undergo a medical, and Arsenal have now confirmed he will join up with his new club in July 2027.

Bartishvili, a graduate of Dinamo Tbilisi’s youth academy, has been tipped as the next Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He made his senior debut last April, becoming the Erovnuli Liga’s youngest-ever player at 16 years and two days old.

His first senior goal came the following month. Bartishvili has also impressed in Georgia’s national youth teams.

It remains to be seen whether he will join up with Mikel Arteta’s first team, or slot into the club’s celebrated youth ranks.

Bartishvili was noticed by Italian agent Christian Dzaccardo, the same man who engineered Kvaratskhelia’s 2022 move to Napoli.

Dzaccardo insists he sees the same potential in Bartishvili as in his countryman: "Recently, a lot of talented players have appeared in Georgia, one of such players is Andria Bartishvili.

“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.”