Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, reacts during an interview with Reuters in Tbilisi, Georgia, February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian Vakhtang Salia may only be 17-years-old but he will soon be trading Dinamo Tbilisi's training ground for Newcastle United’s famous St James' Park stadium.
The striker, known as Vakho, was with his friends when he heard he would be moving to Premier League Newcastle. He will relocate to England near his 18th birthday in August.
For the young prospect, who started playing aged four and debuted for Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia's top flight only a year ago, signing for a Premier League club is a dream come true.
“I couldn’t believe it. But I can’t believe it right up until now. It’s my dream to play there," he said.
Salia is part of a rising generation of young Georgian players who have given the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, a spot on the world soccer map.
Salia told Reuters that among the players he most admires are Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, who shone during the Euro 2024 campaign, Georgia's first major tournament. They lost to eventual champions Spain in the last 16.
The Euros saw Georgia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, win 2-0 against a Portugal side captained by Cristiano Ronaldo, another of Salia’s soccer idols, in the group stage with goals from Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze.
Salia also hopes to play for Georgia one day.
“Football in Georgia now is getting bigger," he said. "It’s every Georgian’s dream for Georgia to play in the World Cup and the Euros. And I hope that I'll play one day in the national team, too."
Dinamo Tbilisi head coach Vladimer Kakashvili said that Salia has every chance of becoming as good a player as his more established countrymen, even if the Premier League is a step up.
“Undoubtedly, today English football is among the best in Europe, where there are very high speeds, very high physical standards, and Vakho will need a certain period to get used to that,” he said.
Salia’s career at Dinamo Tbilisi so far leaves him well placed to shine in England, added Kakashvili.
“When a footballer joins the main team at such a young age, it shows that he’s undoubtedly talented, that he undoubtedly works on himself, and that he is a professional of the highest level," he said.
“I think with his talent, strong work ethic, and dedication, he can play in any competition. It won’t be a problem.”
(Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Ken Ferris)
