Giorgi Chakvetadze
footballer.
Giorgi Chakvetadze is a Georgian professional footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Watford in the EFL Championship. Born on September 29, 1999, in Tbilisi, Georgia, Chakvetadze began his senior career with Dinamo Tbilisi in 2016. He quickly caught the attention of European clubs, leading to a move to Belgian side KAA Gent in 2017. During his time in Belgium, Chakvetadze established himself as a promising talent, making 62 appearances in the Pro League and contributing 6 goals and 8 assists. His performances earned him a loan move to Hamburger SV in Germany's 2. Bundesliga for the 2021-22 season. In 2022, Chakvetadze joined Slovakian club Slovan Bratislava, where he continued to develop his skills. His impressive displays led to a transfer to Watford in 2023, marking his entry into English football. Known for his technical ability and creativity, Chakvetadze has become an important player for both club and country.
Early life & youth football
Giorgi Chakvetadze's early life and youth career were spent in his native Georgia. He joined the youth academy of Dinamo Tbilisi, one of Georgia's most prestigious clubs, at a young age. Chakvetadze progressed through the ranks, showcasing his technical skills and vision that would later define his playing style. His talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly became one of the most promising prospects in Georgian football. Chakvetadze's performances for Dinamo Tbilisi's youth teams caught the attention of the senior squad, leading to his first-team debut in 2016 at the age of 17. This rapid rise through the youth ranks and early breakthrough into professional football set the stage for his future success and eventual move to European football.
Professional career
In the 2016/17 season, Giorgi Chakvetadze made his professional debut for Dinamo Tbilisi in the Erovnuli Liga, Georgia's top division. He appeared in 5 matches, playing a total of 124 minutes. While he didn't score any goals, Chakvetadze received 2 yellow cards, indicating his involvement in the physical aspects of the game. This season was primarily focused on Chakvetadze's transition from youth football to the senior level, giving him a taste of professional football. Despite limited playing time, his inclusion in the first team at just 17 years old demonstrated the club's faith in his potential.The 2017/18 season marked Chakvetadze's breakthrough. He started the season with Dinamo Tbilisi, making 24 appearances in the Erovnuli Liga and scoring 5 goals in 1565 minutes of play. His performances caught the attention of Belgian club KAA Gent, who signed him in the summer of 2017. After moving to Gent, Chakvetadze quickly adapted to Belgian football, making 10 appearances in the Belgian First Division A and scoring 1 goal. He also featured in 9 continental matches, likely in the UEFA Europa League. This season was crucial for Chakvetadze's development, as he transitioned from Georgian to Belgian football and gained his first experience in European competitions.In the 2018/19 season, Giorgi Chakvetadze established himself as a key player for KAA Gent. He made 30 appearances in the Belgian First Division A, scoring 5 goals and providing 5 assists. Chakvetadze's performances earned him recognition, as he was named in the symbolic team of Belgium's top division for the first half of the season. He also featured in 4 UEFA Europa League matches, gaining valuable experience in continental competition. This season saw Chakvetadze's reputation grow, with UEFA including him in their list of 50 young players to watch in 2019. His technical ability, vision, and creativity in midfield made him a standout player in the Belgian league.The 2019/20 season saw Giorgi Chakvetadze continue his development at KAA Gent, although his progress was somewhat hampered by injuries. He made 17 appearances in the Belgian First Division A, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists. Chakvetadze also featured in 5 UEFA Europa League matches, demonstrating his ability to compete at the European level. Despite the reduced playing time compared to the previous season, likely due to injury issues, Chakvetadze remained an important player for Gent when fit. His performances continued to attract attention from larger clubs, with his technical skills and creativity in midfield standing out. The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have affected Chakvetadze's overall statistics for the year.In the 2020/21 season, Giorgi Chakvetadze's progress at KAA Gent was hampered by injuries. He made only 3 appearances in the Belgian Pro League, failing to score or assist. The limited playing time was a significant setback for the young Georgian, who had shown so much promise in previous seasons. Despite the challenges, Chakvetadze remained a part of the Georgia national team, featuring in UEFA Nations League matches and Euro 2020 qualifiers. His performances for the national team, including a goal against North Macedonia in November 2020, provided some positives in an otherwise frustrating season. The lack of consistent playing time at club level raised concerns about his development, but Chakvetadze's talent remained evident when fit. The season was crucial for Chakvetadze to focus on his recovery and regain full fitness to get his career back on track.The 2021/22 season saw Giorgi Chakvetadze split his time between KAA Gent and Hamburger SV. He started the season with Gent, making 8 appearances and scoring 2 goals in all competitions. However, seeking more regular playing time, Chakvetadze joined Hamburger SV on loan in January 2022. At Hamburg, he featured in 10 matches in the 2. Bundesliga, scoring 1 goal. This move to Germany provided Chakvetadze with a new challenge and the opportunity to showcase his skills in a different league. His performances for Hamburg were promising, demonstrating his ability to adapt to a new environment. On the international front, Chakvetadze continued to be a key player for Georgia, featuring in World Cup qualifiers and UEFA Nations League matches. Despite the challenges of adapting to a new league and team mid-season, Chakvetadze showed flashes of his creative ability and technical skills that had made him such a highly-rated prospect.In the 2022/23 season, Giorgi Chakvetadze joined Slovan Bratislava on a season-long loan from KAA Gent. This move proved to be a turning point in his career. Chakvetadze made 25 appearances for Slovan across all competitions, scoring 1 goal and providing several assists. His performances were instrumental in helping Slovan win the Slovak First League title. Chakvetadze's creativity and vision in midfield were key assets for the team, and he quickly became a fan favorite. He also featured in 8 UEFA Conference League matches, providing 4 assists and showcasing his ability to perform on the European stage. This season was crucial for Chakvetadze's development, as he regained consistent playing time and form after a few challenging years. His performances for Slovan attracted interest from several clubs, setting the stage for his next career move.The 2023/24 season marked Giorgi Chakvetadze's move to Watford in the EFL Championship. As of October 2024, he has made 34 appearances for Watford, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists. Chakvetadze's technical ability and creativity have made him a valuable asset in Watford's midfield. His pass completion rate of 87.19% highlights his ability to retain possession and dictate play. Chakvetadze has also shown his dribbling skills, completing 51.61% of his attempted dribbles. His performances have helped Watford push for promotion to the Premier League. On the international stage, Chakvetadze played a crucial role in Georgia's historic qualification for Euro 2024, their first major tournament. His contributions to both club and country have further enhanced his reputation as one of Georgia's most talented players, with his career trajectory continuing to rise.
National team
Giorgi Chakvetadze's international career with Georgia began at the youth level, representing his country in various age groups. He made his senior debut for Georgia on March 24, 2018, in a friendly match against Lithuania at the age of 18. Chakvetadze scored his first international goal in his competitive debut, netting in a 2-0 UEFA Nations League victory over Kazakhstan on September 6, 2018. He has since become a key player for the Georgian national team, accumulating 29 caps and scoring 9 goals as of 2024. Chakvetadze's performances in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers were particularly noteworthy, as he helped Georgia secure a historic qualification for their first major tournament. His creativity and goal-scoring ability have made him an integral part of Georgia's national team setup.
Player’s style
Giorgi Chakvetadze is known for his technical ability, vision, and creativity on the pitch. Playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he possesses excellent ball control and dribbling skills, allowing him to navigate tight spaces and create opportunities for his teammates. Chakvetadze's passing range is one of his standout attributes, capable of delivering both short, intricate passes and long, defense-splitting balls. He has a keen eye for goal, often finding himself in scoring positions and possessing the ability to finish with both feet. Chakvetadze's movement off the ball is intelligent, frequently finding pockets of space between the lines to receive passes and turn to face the opposition goal. While not the most physically imposing player, he compensates with his agility and quick thinking. His set-piece ability adds another dimension to his game, making him a threat from free-kicks and corners.