Arsenal Pursue Georgian Teenager Andria Bartishvili

Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Georgian teenager Andria Bartishvili, tabling a pre-contract offer as they move early in the race for one of Eastern Europe’s most intriguing young midfielders.

Arsenal move first – but not alone

According to BBC reporter Sami Mokbel, the Premier League club have formally proposed a pre-contract agreement to Bartishvili, aiming to bring him to north London towards the end of 2026, when his current deal runs out.

The 17-year-old is not short of admirers. Liverpool and Juventus are both credited with an interest, and Bartishvili is understood to be weighing up his options before committing to his next step.

Inside Arsenal, the push is being driven by Maurizio Micheli. The recruitment figurehead has taken a leading role in the pursuit and is now turning long-standing admiration into a concrete move.

Micheli on the road, Georgia in the spotlight

Mokbel previously revealed that Micheli travelled to watch Bartishvili in person, attending Iberia 1999’s Champions League qualifier against Flora. Bartishvili is currently on loan at Iberia 1999, but his parent club is FC Kolkheti, with both sides competing in Georgia’s domestic system.

Football in Georgia runs on a calendar-year schedule, so Bartishvili’s loan at Iberia 1999 is set to continue until December. Any move to Arsenal will not be immediate, even if an agreement is reached.

Because of FIFA regulations on international transfers involving minors, Bartishvili is not expected to be eligible to formally sign for Arsenal until March 2027, when he turns 18. Arsenal are trying to get ahead of the curve, knowing the real battle is for his signature, not his registration date.

A breakout year in Iberia

On the pitch, Bartishvili has started to justify the attention. Featuring regularly for Iberia 1999, he has produced two goals and three assists in 24 appearances. The key detail: all five of those goal contributions have come since he forced his way into the starting XI at the beginning of May.

Once he got into the team, he stayed there. And he started to influence games.

That surge in form has mirrored his rise through the national-team ranks. Bartishvili has already represented Georgia at u16, u17, u19, and u21 level, a rapid climb for a player still in his teens. In June, he scored twice in two matches for the u19s, underlining his threat from midfield on the international stage as well.

A long game for a long-term bet

This is not a deal that will deliver an instant unveiling at the Emirates or a debut under the lights any time soon. The timelines are awkward: a contract expiring in 2026, a loan running to December, and eligibility only arriving in March 2027.

Arsenal know that. They are playing the long game.

The question now is whether Bartishvili sees his future in north London, or whether Liverpool, Juventus, or another late entrant can tempt him elsewhere before he ever sets foot in the Premier League.