The Gunners have beaten Liverpool and other European suitors after months of work on a deal for the Georgia Under-21 international.
Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign 17-year-old attacking midfielder Andria Bartishvili, beating competition from Liverpool and other European clubs after months of work on the transfer.
The Georgian youngster is expected to join Arsenal in March 2027, when he turns 18. UK regulations prevent the Gunners from bringing him to London before then.
It is believed to be a five year deal with a fee of around €4.5m. He is expected to have a medical on Tuesday, 1 September.
Arsenal opened talks for Bartishvili two months ago with the player on loan at Iberia 1999 from Kolkheti Poti. His current loan runs until the end of the Georgian season in December, with domestic football there operating on a calendar-year basis.
An Arsenal pre-contract was presented to Bartishvili last week, although at that stage it was not certain that he would choose Arsenal, with other offers still on the table.
By then, Liverpool had also entered the picture, while Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus were also among the clubs interested in the Georgia Under-21 international.
Arsenal’s work appears to have paid off.
The midfielder has two goals and three assists in 24 appearances for Iberia 1999. All five of those goal contributions have come since he broke into the starting line-up at the beginning of May.
- Double Arsenal injury update pre-Hull City clashMikel Arteta has provided injury updates on Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka, ahead of Arsenal’s match against Hull City on Saturday.
- Arsenal only lost Max Dowman appeal by 1 voteNew reports have now revealed that Max Dowman only lost his red-card appeal by the narrow margin of a 2-1 vote.
- Ex-Gunner reflects on Arsenal spell ahead of Emirates return with HullHull City’s Brooke Norton-Cuffy has reflected positively on his time with Arsenal, but he’ll be playing to win with his new side on Saturday.
- Arsenal’s Max Dowman receives England promotionMax Dowman has been promoted to the England u21s, receiving his first call-up at that level for the upcoming November internationals.
- Arsenal 18yo receives another senior international call-upArsenal youngster Ceadach O’Neill has received another senior call-up from Northern Ireland, following his recent Gunners first-team debut.