Arsenal Signs Georgian Talent Andria Bartishvili for 2027

Arsenal have beaten Liverpool to the signature of one of Europe’s most coveted teenagers – and they won’t see him in their first team for another three years.

The Premier League champions have completed a deal for 17-year-old Georgian attacking midfielder Andria Bartishvili, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the transfer has now been “formally sealed”. Bartishvili has passed his medical in London and will sign a five-year contract, joining Arsenal’s first team in the summer of 2027 when he turns 18.

Arsenal plan for 2027 while ripping up their forward line

The timing is striking. Over the past few days, Arsenal have torn out a large chunk of their attacking depth.

• Ethan Nwaneri has left for Borussia Dortmund on loan.
• Gabriel Jesus has been sold to Barcelona in a £12m deal including add-ons.
• Gabriel Martinelli has gone to Al-Hilal for £60m.
• Fabio Vieira has joined Hamburg for £8.6m.

Four forwards out. No immediate replacements in.

Yet Mikel Arteta’s squad still looks stacked. Rivals look at Arsenal’s options and see a group built to dominate the present. Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimaraes, both 28, have arrived to strengthen a title-winning core that already bullied the league last season.

Across at Anfield, the contrast is clear. Liverpool still have stars who would walk into Arsenal’s XI, but the depth just does not compare. The sense around the league is that Liverpool are dangerous, but not quite built to go stride for stride in a title race.

Arsenal, by contrast, are acting like a club that expects to stay at the top for years.

Beating Liverpool to Bartishvili

That long-term thinking runs straight through the Bartishvili deal.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool moved for the Georgian youngster over the summer. Liverpool went as far as putting a contract on the table. It wasn’t enough.

On August 29, Romano delivered his trademark “here we go” for Arsenal, revealing that the Gunners had reached an agreement to sign Bartishvili for a fee worth €4.5m from Geo Team. The 17-year-old had a medical booked in London and a five-year deal lined up, with the plan always clear: he would officially join in 2027, once he turns 18.

A few days later, Romano reported that Bartishvili was travelling to the capital to complete the move and undergo that medical.

Now the final step has been taken. Romano’s latest update on Friday morning confirmed that the medical has been completed and the deal is done.

“Georgian talent Andria Bartishvili can be considered a new Arsenal player,” he wrote, adding that the contract is set to be signed and that Bartishvili will link up with the first team in the summer of 2027.

Champions thinking years ahead

Arsenal’s message could hardly be clearer. Even as they reshape their attack and chase more trophies with an experienced core, they are already locking in the next wave of talent.

Liverpool wanted Bartishvili for their rebuild. Arsenal took him for their future. The question now is simple: when 2027 arrives, just how far ahead will the champions be?