Zuriko Davitashvili, while often overshadowed by his famous Georgian counterpart playing in Paris, possesses comparable trickiness and explosiveness on the flank. This year, the winger has been instrumental in spearheading Saint-Étienne`s campaign for an immediate return to Ligue 1, a goal which, at the midpoint of the season, appears firmly within reach.
Following a four-year tenure playing in Russia, Davitashvili returned to his homeland in 2022 in the immediate wake of the invasion of Ukraine. A graduate of the Dinamo Tbilisi academy—like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia—the winger spent the final months of that season playing for Batumi before securing a move to Western Europe.
During his two seasons at Bordeaux, who had recently been relegated from Ligue 1, Davitashvili established himself as one of the second tier`s most compelling and exciting talents. Though occasionally frustratingly inconsistent, his dynamic runs often provided the only reliable offensive spark amidst the club`s severe financial and ownership turbulence. His impressive contribution of 14 goals over his time there was a remarkable return given the chaotic environment surrounding the *Marine et blanc*.
His distinctive playing style—characterized by low-center-of-gravity, `head-down` dribbling and a penchant for audacious long-range shots—naturally invites stylistic comparisons to his fellow Georgian star. However, unlike his compatriot, Davitashvili spent the immediate following season helping *Les Verts* secure promotion, after contributing nine goals and eight assists in the top flight last season before their final-day defeat to Toulouse.
Last summer, Saint-Étienne`s North American ownership was adamant about retaining their prized attacking assets, successfully keeping Davitashvili alongside Belgian striker Lucas Stassin despite widespread interest from across the continent. With eight goals already tallied in the first half of the current Ligue 2 campaign, Davitashvili continues to demonstrate that his quality warrants a place in the French top flight, regardless of whether Saint-Étienne achieves promotion this season.
On the international stage, the 24-year-old recently surpassed the half-century mark in caps for the Georgian national team. Despite a challenging World Cup qualifying campaign this autumn, Davitashvili remained influential, notably scoring in the opening loss against Turkey and providing an assist in the 3-0 victory over Bulgaria.
Although the ten-time French champions were able to hold onto their sought-after winger for the initial months of the season, a transfer move during the upcoming January window appears increasingly probable. While he may not yet possess the polished efficiency and consistency of his more famous counterpart, Davitashvili`s inherent capacity to perform successfully at elite levels is firmly established.
Mark Thompson
