Georgian · Tbilisi, Georgia · Born 12 February 2001Electrifying Georgian winger who took Serie A by storm in his debut season and was instrumental in Napoli's first Scudetto in 33 years.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was born on 12 February 2001 in Tbilisi, Georgia, the son of Badri Kvaratskhelia, a former professional footballer who played for Dinamo Tbilisi and the Azerbaijan national team before a heart condition forced his early retirement. Ethnically Mingrelian, from Georgia's Samegrelo region, Khvicha grew up speaking both Georgian and the Mingrelian language, and often played football barefoot in his early years, developing the close control and balance that would define his style. Kvaratskhelia joined Dinamo Tbilisi's academy at 11 and made his professional debut at just 16. His talent took him to Russia, first on loan at Lokomotiv Moscow and then permanently at Rubin Kazan, where he won back-to-back Russian Premier League Young Player of the Year awards. Napoli signed Kvaratskhelia in 2022, and he made an immediate, sensational impact, being named Serie A's Player of the Year in his debut season as Napoli won its first Scudetto in over 30 years. Nicknamed "Kvaradona" by adoring Neapolitan fans in tribute to Diego Maradona, he became one of the most exciting attacking players in world football. Kvaratskhelia moved to Paris Saint-Germain in January 2025, and started and scored in the 2025 Champions League final as PSG beat Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first European title. He won a second Champions League with PSG the following year, being named the competition's best player, and captains Georgia, having helped his country reach its first-ever major tournament at Euro 2024.
Helping Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years
Napoli fans nicknamed him 'Kvaradona' in tribute to Diego Maradona, the highest possible compliment in Naples, after his sensational debut season.
Did You Know?How They Played
Pacey left winger with excellent dribbling and finishing ability
Lasting Impact
Despite his young age, Kvaratskhelia has already made a significant impact by helping end Napoli's three-decade wait for a Serie A title. His emergence has also elevated Georgian football on the international stage.
Career Honours
- Serie A 2023
- Serie A Young Player of the Year 2023
- Serie A 2022-23
- Serie A Young Player of the Year 2022-23
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinamo Tbilisi | 2017–2018 | — | 4 | 1 |
| Rustavi | 2018–2019 | — | 18 | 3 |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2019–2019 | loan | 7 | 1 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2019–2022 | — | 69 | 9 |
| Dinamo Batumi | 2022–2022 | — | 11 | 8 |
| Napoli | 2022–2025 | €10m | 85 | 28 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2025–Present | €70m | 42 | 12 |
 Georgia | — | — | 38 | — |
Georgian Athletes