Andria Bartishvili: A Georgian Prodigy Drawing Interest from Liverpool and Arsenal

Liverpool and Arsenal are circling one of Georgia’s most intriguing young talents – and the clock is very much part of the story.

A Georgian prodigy on Europe’s radar

At 17, Andria Bartishvili has already forced his way into senior football in the Georgian top flight, racking up double‑digit appearances this season and marking his breakthrough with a decisive first senior goal in a 1-0 win over Gagra.

He plays with the swagger you expect from a No 10, but not one chained to the middle of the pitch. On loan at FC Iberia 1999 from parent club Kolkheti 1913, Bartishvili drifts in from the left, operates between the lines, and relishes isolation duels. At 170cm, he relies on tight close control, sharp changes of direction and the confidence to take on defenders one‑v‑one.

Back home, that profile has already drawn the inevitable comparison: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. That is a heavy name to carry for a teenager, yet it underlines how highly he is rated in Georgia.

A contract wrinkle the big clubs smell

The real twist lies in his contract.

Bartishvili’s loan at Iberia 1999 runs until the end of 2026. At that point, he is due to return to Kolkheti Poti – but his deal with the parent club also expires then. That alignment opens a rare window: he could be available on a free transfer or for a minimal compensation fee.

Arsenal have already tried to move into that space. Reports suggest they are preparing a pre-contract style offer designed to exploit the timing, effectively a Bosman‑style move for one of Eastern Europe’s brightest prospects. A fee in the region of £2m has been floated as a benchmark for what it might take to bring him in early.

Liverpool join the race

Just as Arsenal looked to be positioning themselves, fresh noise has arrived from Georgia.

Reliable local outlet “Geo Team” reported on X that three clubs are now actively working on a deal for Bartishvili: Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC, and Paris FC. According to their information, the teenager has not yet reached an agreement with Arsenal, and the offers on the table from the two English giants are understood to be identical.

Paris FC, lacking the financial muscle and global pull of Liverpool or Arsenal, are trying a different angle. They are said to be offering guaranteed first‑team minutes from the outset – a powerful argument for a 17-year-old whose next move will shape his development far more than his bank balance.

Decision parked until Europe calls

For now, Bartishvili is pressing pause.

Per “Geo Team”, he and his representatives will only make a final decision after upcoming European qualification matches, which he is set to play with FC Iberia 1999. Those games will be a shop window and an audition rolled into one – a chance to prove he can carry his domestic form onto a bigger stage while the watching scouts update their reports in real time.

Arsenal’s willingness to go to around £2m offers a rough guide to his current valuation, but the real battle is not over money. It is over pathway, playing time and trust.

Liverpool, Arsenal, or a fast track in Paris – whichever project convinces him now could end up with a bargain that Europe spends the next decade talking about.