Watford FC is delighted to confirm that Georgia international midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze has joined the club on a season-long loan from KAA Gent, with the deal including an option to make the transfer permanent.
Despite his tender years, the 23-year-old arrives in Hertfordshire with a wealth of experience in domestic and European competition, and having already tallied up 16 appearances for his country.
Chakvetadze’s professional career began in his hometown, with Dinamo Tbilisi, where he made his first-team bow as a late substitute against local rivals Locomotive Tbilisi in November 2016.
After scoring five goals in little under 30 games in the Georgian capital, and still comfortably in his teens, Chakvetadze was the subject of interest from clubs across the continent in the summer of 2017 and eventually departed for Belgian heavyweights Gent.
Across the following four-and-a-half years he struck eight times in 81 games for the Buffalos, while he featured in both the UEFA Europa League and Europa Conference League, and played a part in the side’s 2021/22 Belgian Cup triumph.
A short-term loan during the latter half of that season yielded one goal and 12 appearances at six-time German champions Hamburger SV, before he joined Slovan Bratislava on a year-long temporary deal last summer.
Close to 50 appearances in Slovakia delivered significant success for Chakvetadze, who featured in Champions League qualifying, Europa League qualifying and on a run to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League, before he helped his team clinch the Slovak First Football League crown.
Internationally, having impressed through the age-groups - including at the Under-19 European Championships in 2017 - Chakvetadze was handed his senior Georgia debut in a 4-0 win over Lithuania in March 2018, marking the occasion with the game’s final goal.
He has since notched six further goals for his country, including two against Mongolia earlier this year.
Welcome to Watford, Giorgi!
