Arsenal Pursues Georgian Star Andria Bartishvili Amid Competition
Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Georgian prospect Andria Bartishvili, putting a pre-contract offer on the table for the highly rated midfielder as the battle for his signature gathers pace.
According to BBC reporter Sami Mokbel, the Premier League club have formally moved to secure Bartishvili on a deal that would see him join towards the end of 2026, when his current contract runs down. The teenager is not short of admirers, though. Liverpool and Juventus are both credited with an interest, and the player is yet to decide where his future lies.
Micheli leads Arsenal’s push
Inside Arsenal, one figure is driving this move hard: Maurizio Micheli. The recruitment chief has been central to the club’s pursuit of Bartishvili and has now helped turn admiration into a concrete proposal.
Mokbel previously reported that Micheli was spotted in the stands watching Bartishvili turn out for Iberia 1999 in a Champions League qualifier against Flora. It was a clear signal that Arsenal’s interest had gone beyond routine scouting and into serious planning.
Bartishvili is currently on loan at Iberia 1999 from parent club FC Kolkheti, with both sides competing in the Georgian football league structure.
Complex timing around any move
The timeline around any transfer is not straightforward. Georgia’s domestic game runs on a calendar-year schedule, so Bartishvili’s loan with Iberia 1999 is set to run until December.
On top of that, regulations mean he may not be able to formally sign for Arsenal until March 2027, when he turns 18. That is why the north London club are moving now with a pre-contract offer, looking to position themselves ahead of Liverpool, Juventus and any other late arrivals to the race.
Rapid rise in Georgia
On the pitch, Bartishvili has started to justify the noise around his name. For Iberia, the Georgia youth international has produced two goals and three assists in 24 appearances. All five of those goal contributions have come since he forced his way into the starting XI at the start of May, underlining how quickly he has adapted once given a run of games.
His progress at club level mirrors a steady climb through the national-team ranks. Bartishvili has already represented Georgia at u16, u17, u19 and u21 level. He caught the eye in June for the u19s, scoring twice in two matches and adding another layer to his growing reputation.
Arsenal have seen enough to make their move early. Now the question is whether a teenager emerging from the Georgian league system chooses north London over the lure of Liverpool, the pull of Juventus, and any other heavyweight that decides to join the chase.
