Arsenal Signs Georgian Teenager Andria Bartishvili for 2027
Arsenal have beaten Liverpool to the signing of highly rated Georgian teenager Andria Bartishvili, tying down their first confirmed arrival for 2027 in a move that underlines the champions’ long-term planning.
The deal, confirmed step by step by Fabrizio Romano, has now been “formally sealed”, with the 17-year-old attacking midfielder set to join Arsenal’s first team in the summer of 2027 when he turns 18.
Arsenal plan for tomorrow after ripping up today’s forward line
The timing is striking. Arsenal have just waved goodbye to four forwards in quick succession: Ethan Nwaneri has joined Borussia Dortmund on loan, Gabriel Jesus has gone to Barcelona in a £12m deal including add-ons, Gabriel Martinelli has moved to Al-Hilal for £60m, and Fabio Vieira has signed for Hamburg for £8.6m.
On paper, that’s a lot of firepower out the door. No direct replacements have arrived for that quartet. Yet Mikel Arteta’s squad still looks stacked, deep, and balanced in a way that leaves most of their rivals looking light.
Liverpool, for instance, still possess several world-class players who would walk into Arsenal’s XI. But the bench tells a different story. The depth is not there at Anfield, and few genuinely see the Reds as realistic title contenders right now.
Arsenal, by contrast, are operating like a club expecting to dominate the next few years. They have already invested in the present with signings such as Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimaraes, both 28, but they are clearly refusing to neglect the future.
Bartishvili is the latest proof.
Liverpool miss out as Bartishvili chooses Arsenal
Both Arsenal and Liverpool pushed hard for Bartishvili’s signature over the summer. Liverpool went as far as putting a contract offer on the table. It was not enough.
The 17-year-old, regarded as one of Georgia’s standout young attacking talents, has chosen the Premier League champions instead.
On August 29, Romano delivered his trademark “here we go” for the move, writing that Arsenal had agreed a deal to sign the teenager, with a medical booked in London and a five-year contract lined up.
The structure is clear: Bartishvili joins from 2027, once he turns 18. The transfer is worth €4.5m, with Romano confirming he is joining from @Geo_team.
A few days later, Romano updated that Bartishvili was travelling to London to complete the move and undergo his medical, adding that the agreement would see him join Arsenal from June 2027.
Now the final hurdle has been cleared. Romano’s latest update on Friday morning confirmed the medical has been completed, the contract is set to be signed, and the deal is “formally sealed”.
The conclusion is simple: Andria Bartishvili can be considered a new Arsenal player, earmarked for the first team from the summer of 2027.
Arsenal already look built to win now. If their talent ID at youth level keeps hitting targets like this, how long before everyone else is just trying to keep up?
