Liverpool and Arsenal Battle for Georgian Teen Star Andria Bartishvili

Liverpool have joined Arsenal in a quietly escalating battle for one of Georgia’s most talked‑about young footballers, 17-year-old Andria Bartishvili.

The attacking midfielder has only just broken into the Georgian top flight, but his rise has been sharp. Double‑digit league appearances already, a first senior goal in a 1-0 win over Gagra, and a growing reputation as one of the brightest prospects the country has produced in years.

He plays his club football on loan at FC Iberia 1999, sent there from parent side Kolkheti 1913. That arrangement runs until the end of 2026. On paper, it looks straightforward. In reality, it has opened a door that Europe’s recruiters have spotted a mile off.

Because when that loan ends, his contract with Kolkheti Poti ends as well. No extension, no extra option. At that point, Bartishvili would be available on a free or for minimal compensation. For clubs operating at the sharp end of the market, that is the definition of an opportunity.

Arsenal have already moved to exploit it. Reports indicate the London club are preparing a pre-contract proposal, aiming to tie the teenager down on a Bosman-style deal before the rest of Europe can crowd the space. A fee in the region of £2 million has been mentioned as a likely benchmark to get a deal done early.

Now the picture has changed.

Respected Georgian outlet “Geo Team” reported on X that three clubs are actively working on a move: Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC and Paris FC. They state that Bartishvili has not yet reached an agreement with Arsenal, and that the three sides have tabled “identical offers” financially.

That is where the battle lines are being drawn. Paris FC, according to the same report, are trying to tilt the race by promising guaranteed first-team minutes from the start. For a 17-year-old still learning the game, that is no small card to play.

Liverpool and Arsenal, though, bring their own pull. Elite infrastructure. Established pathways for talented youngsters. The chance to grow in one of the most competitive environments in world football.

Bartishvili’s profile fits that pathway talk. Standing at 170cm, he operates primarily as a No 10 but is just as comfortable drifting in from the left. He thrives in tight spaces, using sharp changes of direction and close control to slip past defenders in one‑v‑one situations. Back home, those traits have already drawn comparisons with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – a heavy name to carry for a teenager, but a measure of how highly he is regarded.

For now, the decision is on hold. Geo Team report that Bartishvili and his representatives will only choose his next destination after upcoming European qualification matches, in which he is set to feature for FC Iberia 1999.

Three clubs in the race. Identical offers on the table. One promise of immediate starts, two giants offering long-term platforms.

The next few months will reveal which vision a 17-year-old from Georgia believes can shape his career.