Liverpool and Arsenal Target Young Talent Bartishvili

Liverpool and Arsenal are circling one of Georgia’s most intriguing young talents – and the clock is already ticking on a deal that could prove a bargain.

Premier League giants move for Bartishvili

Andria Bartishvili, just 17, has forced his way into the Georgian top flight this season and is now at the centre of a three‑way tug of war involving Liverpool, Arsenal and Paris FC.

The attacking midfielder, on loan at FC Iberia 1999 from parent club Kolkheti 1913, has already logged double‑digit appearances and scored his first senior goal in a 1-0 win over Gagra. That breakthrough strike has only sharpened the focus on a player many in Georgia view as one of the brightest prospects the country has produced in recent years.

He is not a physically imposing presence at 170cm, but he plays big. Operating as a No 10 or drifting in off the left, Bartishvili has built his reputation on tight close control, sudden changes of direction and the confidence to take on defenders one‑on‑one. Back home, those traits have inevitably drawn comparisons with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – flattering, heavy company for a teenager, but a measure of the excitement around him.

A contract situation made for opportunists

The real intrigue sits 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 at the same time. That alignment opens a door for Europe’s opportunists: he could leave on a free transfer or for only minimal compensation.

Arsenal have already been linked with a pre‑contract offer designed to exploit that window, effectively a Bosman‑style move for a player who would normally cost far more in a conventional market. Reports suggest the London club would be willing to pay around £2 million to get ahead of the queue, a figure that now serves as a rough benchmark for negotiations.

Just as Arsenal looked ready to pounce, the picture shifted.

Liverpool join the race as Paris FC change the pitch

According to respected Georgian outlet “Geo Team” on X, Liverpool have stepped into the race alongside Arsenal and Paris FC. The report states that Bartishvili has not yet reached an agreement with Arsenal, with all three clubs currently working on a deal.

The offers from Liverpool and Arsenal are described as “identical” in financial terms, leaving the sporting project and pathway to first‑team football as the real battleground. That is where Paris FC are trying to twist the narrative in their favour, putting guaranteed first‑team minutes on the table from day one in an attempt to lure the teenager away from the Premier League glare.

For a 17‑year‑old still establishing himself in Georgia, that promise carries weight. The choice between immediate senior football in France and a longer, more competitive route at clubs of Liverpool and Arsenal’s stature will define the next phase of his career.

Decision parked until European qualifiers

Bartishvili will not decide immediately. “Geo Team” report that he and his representatives plan to make a final call only after upcoming European qualification matches, in which he is set to feature for FC Iberia 1999.

Those games now carry an extra edge. Every sharp turn, every one‑on‑one, every glimpse of that playmaking talent will be watched with a different intensity, as three clubs with very different profiles weigh up whether this £2 million flutter could be the start of something far bigger.

For Bartishvili, the next few months are not just about qualifying with Iberia. They are about choosing a stage big enough for his ambition, and a pathway that won’t stunt the very flair that put Europe on alert in the first place.