Newsletters
Three Turkish football clubs have expressed interest in signing Georgian midfielder Davit Skhirtladze, with one Super Lig team and two Trendyol 1. Lig sides pursuing the 32-year-old player, a member of his management team confirmed to Türkiye Today on Sunday.
The renewed interest marks a potential return to Turkish football for Skhirtladze, who previously played for Kocaelispor during the 2023 season when the club competed in Türkiye's second division. Kocaelispor has since earned promotion to the Super League, though Skhirtladze departed before the club's ascent to the top flight.
Negotiations between the clubs and Skhirtladze's representatives are ongoing, with further updates expected as discussions continue. The management team member did not identify which clubs have approached the player.
Skhirtladze, born March 16, 1993, currently is a free agent, who previously played in Georgia's top division for FC Gareji Sagarejo. The 186-centimeter right-footed midfielder has accumulated 343 appearances across all competitions throughout his professional career, scoring 72 goals and providing 61 assists while playing in Denmark, Georgia, Latvia, Slovakia, Poland and Türkiye.
The midfielder's most productive stint came in the Erovnuli Liga, Georgia's top tier, where he recorded 27 goals in 90 appearances. He also logged significant time in Denmark's Superliga with 102 appearances for Aarhus GF, contributing 16 goals and 14 assists over multiple seasons.
During his previous Turkish experience, Skhirtladze made seven appearances in the 1. Lig for Kocaelispor during the 2023 season, playing 406 minutes before the partnership ended. His limited playing time in Türkiye contrasts with his more substantial contributions in Georgian and Danish competitions.
While Skhirtladze has never earned senior caps for the Georgian national team, he has competed in European tournaments at club level. His resume includes appearances in UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Europa League matches and Europa Conference League qualifying rounds, totaling 13 combined appearances in continental competition.
His European experience came primarily during his time in Denmark, where he participated in Superliga playoff matches and cup competitions. The midfielder has also played in the Polish Ekstraklasa, Slovak Nike Liga and Latvian Virsliga, demonstrating adaptability across different European football cultures.
The potential transfer comes amid strengthening ties between Turkish and Georgian football communities. Last October, a Kocaeli restaurant owner made headlines by treating Georgian journalists to complimentary meals ahead of a World Cup qualifier between Türkiye and Georgia, specifically citing his respect for Skhirtladze's time with Kocaelispor.
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
