"In terms of style, I'd compare him more to Kevin De Bruyne." That's not a journalist reaching for clicks — that's Saba Sapanadze, a Georgian football specialist who covers these players for a living, talking about Arsenal's latest signing.
Arsenal have agreed a €4.5 million deal with FC Kolkheti-1913 Poti for 17-year-old Andria Bartishvili. The teenager will complete a medical in North London before officially joining next summer.
What kind of player are Arsenal actually getting?
Sapanadze, who runs Geo Team — a platform tracking Georgian players from Kvaratskhelia at PSG to Mamardashvili at Liverpool — was the one who broke the deal. His assessment of Bartishvili is worth paying attention to.
"He's a player who is incredible in one-on-one situations. Extremely technical and intelligent, with outstanding vision and awareness on the pitch."
The key distinction from Kvaratskhelia, the comparison any Georgian prospect will inevitably face, is positional. Bartishvili isn't a winger. He operates centrally, behind the striker, picking his way through midfield — which is exactly why Sapanadze reaches for De Bruyne rather than his more famous countryman. "Khvicha is a pure winger, much quicker, with long, powerful strides. Andria operates more centrally... one of his biggest strengths is his ability to break through midfield from central areas."
Last season, Bartishvili spent time on loan at Iberia 1999, featuring in their UEFA Champions League and Europa League qualifying matches. That's not youth-team football. Qualifying rounds are competitive, physical, and unforgiving for teenagers.
The transfer context matters here
Arsenal have been on a deliberate recruitment drive for future talent since Pascal de Maesschalck replaced Per Mertesacker as Academy Director. Bartishvili becomes the fourth such signing, alongside Ecuadorian twins Holger and Edwin Quintero (arriving in 2027) and Shamrock Rovers' Victor Ozhianvuna, who joins in January.
At €4.5 million, this is exactly what each Quintero twin individually costs Arsenal — yet Sapanadze argues the Bartishvili deal is significantly better value. "I think Arsenal were very lucky to get Andria for €4.5 million. That only happened because he's Georgian, otherwise his price would have been around €15 million — €20 million." When a specialist who covers the market daily says that without caveats, it sharpens how good this piece of business looks on paper.
For anyone tracking Arsenal's futures or long-term squad depth, these signings suggest the club is building layers — not just chasing the next window.
The realistic path for Bartishvili, per Sapanadze: a first-team contract, training with the senior squad, then potentially a Championship loan to adjust to British football. Sensible. New Under-21s boss David Horseman now has a serious crop to work with regardless.
"Let's be realistic," Sapanadze said. "Arsenal have an incredible squad right now, so it would be unrealistic for me to tell you that he'll walk straight into the first team."
No one expects him to. But €4.5 million for a De Bruyne-type playmaker who the market would have priced at four times that in a bigger market? Arsenal's recruitment team will take that quietly.
