Giorgi Chakvetadze is Udinese's first signing of the 2026/27 season, joining from Watford on a permanent deal. The Georgian attacking midfielder has penned a four-year contract until 30 June 2030, with an option for a further season.
The 26-year-old Georgia international is a dynamic, modern midfielder with an eye for goal whose versatility allows him to operate in the hole, as a box-to-box midfielder or as a wide forward.
Born in Tbilisi (Georgia) on 29 August 1999, Chakvetadze came through the ranks at Dinamo Tblisi and made his senior debut during the 2015/16 season, aged 17. His career took off in 2017 when he caught the eye with five goals and nine assists in 24 Georgian league appearances, and was later named player of the season.
Following his breakout season, Gent snapped up the 18-year-old. In his first season in Belgium he played 19 games with one goal, while in his second he notched five goals in 23 league appearances, with another strike in four domestic cup matches, and four Europa League appearances.
In January 2022, Giorgi joined Hamburg for a six-month loan spell, playing ten times and scoring one goal in 2. Bundesliga.
He then spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Slovan Bratislava, where he made 25 league appearances and scored once on the way to helping Slovan win the title. That year he also garnered a wealth of European experience, featuring in six domestic cup games, four Champions League preliminaries, two Europa League preliminaries and ten total matches in the Conference League playoffs, group stage and knockout rounds.
Chakvetadze made the move to Watford in the summer of 2023 and quickly established himself as one of the pillars of the side. In his first year he was a model of consistency, making 34 appearances and scoring one goal in the Championship, with three additional appearances in the FA Cup. The following season he racked up 39 games, two goals and six assists in the Championship, with one appearance in both the League Cup and the FA Cup. Last season he turned out 29 times for the Hornets.
Since making his senior Georgia debut in 2018 at the age of 18, Chakvetadze has earned 39 caps and scored 10 goals.
He also played three games for Georgia U21s, 14 (with one goal) for the U19s, one for the U18s and 18 (with five goals) for the U17s.
Welcome to Udine, Giorgi!