Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Friday accomplished a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Italian league leaders Napoli, the French champions introduced.
“Paris Saint-Germain is happy to announce the signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The 23-year-old winger, who will put on quantity seven, turns into the primary Georgian participant within the membership’s historical past,” mentioned a PSG assertion.
No switch price was revealed however media experiences in France mentioned the Parisians would pay 70 million euros ($72 million), not together with potential bonuses, for the participant.
The transfer comes 24 hours after the 23-year-old posted a video on social media telling Napoli followers “it’s exhausting for me however it’s time to say goodbye”.
“It’s an honour to have the ability to put on the PSG shirt,” he added in an interview with the PSG web site on Friday.
“It was a dream for me to play for one of many largest groups on this planet. I’m very proud, it’s a dream and we’re going to battle collectively to fulfil our goals. I’m very glad.”
The 2023 Scudetto winner, who arrived at Napoli in 2022 as a discount purchase from Dinamo Batumi in his homeland, was voted Serie A’s finest participant that season.
Kvaratskhelia scored 30 objectives and supplied 29 assists in 107 matches in all competitions for Napoli.
He has signed a contract till 2029 with the Ligue 1 leaders and can hope to dislodge France worldwide Bradley Barcola from his place on the left wing in coach Luis Enrique’s beginning line-up.
Kvaratskhelia might make an instantaneous debut for his new membership once they go to Lens on Saturday, trying to lengthen their lead on the high of Ligue 1 to 10 factors from nearest challengers Marseille.
Nevertheless, he won’t be able to play in PSG’s remaining Champions League matches this month, at residence to Manchester Metropolis subsequent Wednesday and away to VfB Stuttgart on January 29.
PSG will solely be capable of add their new signing to their Champions League squad ought to they make it by to the knockout part starting in February.
They presently sit one place and one level outdoors the qualifying spots for the play-off spherical earlier than internet hosting Metropolis in a crunch match on the Parc des Princes.
“The venture is what satisfied me to come back right here,” added Kvaratskhelia.
“I do know what the membership desires to attain and the way it works with gamers. It’s according to who I’m, a number of nice gamers have performed right here, so I didn’t assume a lot about it once I had the chance to come back to Paris.”
Kvaratskhelia’s arrival provides a sprinkling of stardust to a PSG aspect nonetheless adapting following the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Actual Madrid on the finish of final season.
His signing comes as PSG attempt to offload France centre-forward Randal Kolo Muani, who has been on the verge of creating a mortgage transfer to Juventus having fallen out of favour in Paris.
Nevertheless, experiences in France on Friday recommended that change is on maintain as a result of PSG have already crammed their quota for gamers out on mortgage, which is capped at six.
