 |
Khvicha KvaratskheliaGeorgian footballer, midfielder
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Georgia |
Content:
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Move to Rustavi
- Loan to Lokomotiv Moscow
- Rubin Kazan
- Departure from Russia
- Dinamo Batumi
- Napoli
- International Career
- Family
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Early CareerKhvicha Kvaratskhelia, a Georgian footballer, was born on February 12, 2001, in Tbilisi, Georgia. He began his football journey with Dinamo Tbilisi before making his professional debut for the club's senior team on September 29, 2017. During the 2017 season, he appeared in four matches and scored one goal.
Move to Rustavi
In April 2018, Kvaratskhelia joined Rustavi FC. He played 18 matches and scored three goals in the subsequent season. In late June 2019, he left the club after a loan spell at Lokomotiv Moscow.
Loan to Lokomotiv Moscow
Breakthrough in RussiaKvaratskhelia joined Lokomotiv Moscow on loan in February 2019. In his first friendly match, he scored a goal against Viking FK just minutes after coming off the bench. He made his Premier League debut on March 10 in a 2-0 away victory over Anzhi Makhachkala, becoming the first player born in 2001 to play in the Russian league. His first goal came on May 10 in a match against Rubin Kazan. He also won the Russian Cup with Lokomotiv on May 22.
Rubin Kazan
Transfer and Domestic SuccessOn July 6, 2019, Kvaratskhelia signed a contract with Rubin Kazan until 2024. In his debut match, he scored a goal against his former club, Lokomotiv Moscow. In his first season with Rubin, he recorded three goals and two assists in 28 matches. He was recognized as the Russian Premier League's Young Player of the Season in 2019/20. In the summer of 2020, Rubin rejected a €15 million bid from Galatasaray for Kvaratskhelia's services. He made his European debut on August 5, 2021, in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against Raków Częstochowa.
Departure from Russia
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kvaratskhelia decided to leave Russia. On March 23, his contract was suspended, and he joined Dinamo Batumi on loan. Rubin officially terminated his contract on March 30.
Dinamo Batumi
Rumored Napoli MoveKvaratskhelia made his debut for Dinamo Batumi on April 2. Rumors of a potential move to Italian club Napoli began to circulate immediately. On April 18, he scored his first goals for the club with a brace against Gagra. In late April, his transfer to Napoli was officially announced, with the move set to take place in the summer transfer window. He played 11 matches for Dinamo Batumi in the Georgian league, scoring eight goals and providing two assists, becoming the best player of the league's second round.
Napoli
Impressive StartOn July 1, 2022, Kvaratskhelia officially joined Napoli. He made his Serie A debut on August 15, scoring his first goal for the club in a 5-2 victory over Hellas Verona. In the next match, he netted a brace against Monza. On September 3, he scored the winning goal against Lazio, establishing a new Napoli record for combined goals and assists since 2007/08. He was named Serie A Player of the Month for August 2022. Kvaratskhelia also scored his Champions League debut goal on October 4 against Ajax.
International Career
Kvaratskhelia made his international debut for Georgia on June 7, 2019, in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Gibraltar. He scored his first goal for the national team on October 14, 2020, against North Macedonia, and followed it up with a goal against Spain on March 28, 2021.
Family
Kvaratskhelia's father, Badri Kvaratskhelia, was also a professional footballer and later a coach. He was a Georgian and Azerbaijani champion and played three matches for the Azerbaijan national team in 2000.
