Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Friday completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain from Italian league leaders Napoli, the French champions announced.
“Paris Saint-Germain is pleased to announce the signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The 23-year-old winger, who will wear number seven, becomes the first Georgian player in the club’s history,” PSG said in a statement.
No transfer fee was revealed, but media reports in France said the Parisians would pay 70 million euros (US$72.1 million), not including potential bonuses, for the player.
Photo: REUTERS
The move comes 24 hours after the 23-year-old posted a video on social media telling Napoli fans: “It’s hard for me but it’s time to say goodbye.”
The 2023 Scudetto winner, who arrived at Napoli in 2022 as a bargain buy from Dinamo Batumi in his homeland, was voted Serie A’s best player that season.
Kvaratskhelia scored 30 goals and provided 29 assists in 107 matches in all competitions for Napoli.
He has signed a contract until 2029 with the Ligue 1 leaders and would hope to dislodge France international Bradley Barcola from his position on the left wing in coach Luis Enrique’s starting line-up.
He would not be eligible to play in PSG’s remaining UEFA Champions League matches this month, at home to Manchester City on Wednesday and away to VfB Stuttgart on Jan. 29.
PSG would only be able to add their new signing to their Champions League squad should they make it through to the knockout phase beginning next month.
Kvaratskhelia’s arrival adds a sprinkling of stardust to a PSG side still adapting following the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid at the end of last season.
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