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At just 17, Vakhtang Salia is set to swap Dinamo Tbilisi for Newcastle United, marking a major step in his career. The young striker, inspired by Georgian stars like Kvaratskhelia, will move to England in August, hoping to shine in the Premier League and one day represent his national team.
Georgian Vakhtang Salia may only be 17-years-old but he will soon be trading Dinamo Tbilisi's training ground for Newcastle United’s famous St James' Park stadium.
The striker, known as Vakho, was with his friends when he heard he would be moving to Premier League Newcastle. He will relocate to England near his 18th birthday in August.
For the young prospect, who started playing aged four and debuted for Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia's top flight only a year ago, signing for a Premier League club is a dream come true.
“I couldn’t believe it. But I can’t believe it right up until now. It’s my dream to play there," he said.
Salia is part of a rising generation of young Georgian players who have given the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, a spot on the world soccer map.
Salia told Reuters that among the players he most admires are Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, who shone during the Euro 2024 campaign, Georgia's first major tournament. They lost to eventual champions Spain in the last 16.
The Euros saw Georgia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, win 2-0 against a Portugal side captained by Cristiano Ronaldo, another of Salia’s soccer idols, in the group stage with goals from Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze.
Salia also hopes to play for Georgia one day.
“Football in Georgia now is getting bigger," he said. "It’s every Georgian’s dream for Georgia to play in the World Cup and the Euros. And I hope that I'll play one day in the national team, too."
Dinamo Tbilisi head coach Vladimer Kakashvili said that Salia has every chance of becoming as good a player as his more established countrymen, even if the Premier League is a step up.
“Undoubtedly, today English football is among the best in Europe, where there are very high speeds, very high physical standards, and Vakho will need a certain period to get used to that,” he said.
Salia’s career at Dinamo Tbilisi so far leaves him well placed to shine in England, added Kakashvili.
“When a footballer joins the main team at such a young age, it shows that he’s undoubtedly talented, that he undoubtedly works on himself, and that he is a professional of the highest level," he said.
“I think with his talent, strong work ethic, and dedication, he can play in any competition. It won’t be a problem.”
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
More than a 1,000 civil society representatives gathered in Seville this week for a major United Nations conference on development financing, but many said they left feeling side lined and frustrated, with expectations already low before the event began.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 4th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Hamas is seeking firm assurances that a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal will ultimately bring the Gaza conflict to an end, a source close to the group said on Thursday, as Israeli airstrikes continued across the territory, killing at least 59 people, according to local health officials.
Russia launched an overnight drone assault on Kyiv, injuring at least 14 people and causing fires and damage across the capital, Ukrainian officials said early Friday. Twelve of the injured were taken to hospital, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that his phone call earlier in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded no progress in ending the war in Ukraine.
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