Georgian teenager Salia s dream comes true with Newcastle move

TBILISI - Georgian Vakhtang Salia may only be 17-years-old but he will soon be trading Dinamo Tbilisis 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 Georgias 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, Georgias 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 Ill 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,