Saba Goglichidze Biography
Saba Goglichidze is a Georgian professional footballer who has built his career from the local game in Kutaisi to Serie A in Italy and the English Championship. Born on June 25, 2004, he grew up playing football in his hometown and came through the youth system of Torpedo Kutaisi.
He is a defender, mainly a centre-back. At 1.93 metres, he has the size expected from a central defender, while his club has also described him as fast and technically capable. His rise has been fairly quick. He made his senior debut for Torpedo Kutaisi in 2021, moved to Empoli in January 2024, became a regular in Serie A during the 2024–25 season, and signed for Udinese in August 2025.
His story is still being written. That part is clear.
Quick Facts About Saba Goglichidze
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Saba Goglichidze |
| Date of Birth | June 25, 2004 |
| Age | 22 years old |
| Birthplace | Kutaisi, Georgia |
| Nationality | Georgian |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
| Position | Defender / Centre-back |
| Height | About 1.93 m |
| First Senior Club | Torpedo Kutaisi |
| Italian Club | Empoli |
| Current Contracted Club | Udinese |
| Udinese Contract | Until June 2030 |
| 2026 Loan | Watford, until June 30, 2026 |
| National Team | Georgia |
| Main Career Breakthrough | Empoli, 2024–25 |
The height is reported by Sky Sport, while Udinese confirms his birth date, birthplace, development at Torpedo Kutaisi, transfer from Empoli and five-year contract.
Early Life in Kutaisi
Goglichidze was born in Kutaisi, one of Georgia’s best-known football cities. His early football education came through Torpedo Kutaisi, the club from his hometown.
That local connection mattered.
He did not begin his senior career at a giant European club. He started at home, learned the basics there, and slowly earned his chance with the first team. Udinese says he played for Torpedo’s youth sides before making his senior debut in 2021.
The early numbers were encouraging. In 2022, he made 15 league appearances and two Georgian Cup appearances. The following season brought another 14 league matches. He was still young, but he was getting real senior football.
That experience helped.
Torpedo Kutaisi Career
Goglichidze made his senior debut for Torpedo Kutaisi in 2021. The move from youth football to senior football can be rough, especially for a young defender. Mistakes get punished quickly.
He kept playing.
By 2022, he had become a useful part of the squad. Udinese records 15 league appearances and two Georgian Cup appearances that season. In 2023, he added 14 league appearances. Across his Torpedo senior spell, Opta lists 30 league appearances.
The next big step came from Italy.
Move to Empoli
Empoli brought Goglichidze to Italy in January 2024. It was a major change for a young Georgian defender.
New country. New football. New pressure.
His first period at Empoli was mainly about learning and adjusting. He did not immediately become a Serie A regular. Opta records one senior appearance for Empoli during the 2023–24 season, while the following campaign became a very different story.
Then came 2024–25.
That was the season that put his name on the wider football map.
Breakthrough Season at Empoli
Goglichidze played 33 Serie A matches for Empoli during the 2024–25 season, starting 29 of them and playing 2,539 minutes, according to FBref. He also recorded one assist.
Those numbers matter.
A young centre-back playing 33 matches in Serie A is getting serious responsibility. He was not simply filling a squad place. He was regularly involved.
His defensive work also stood out statistically. StatMuse records 66 tackles, 33 interceptions and 94 clearances in those 33 Serie A appearances. He also finished the league campaign with three yellow cards and one red card.
Empoli also reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals during that campaign. Goglichidze played three matches in the competition, giving him 36 appearances across Serie A and the Coppa Italia according to the figures reported around his Udinese transfer.
Honestly, this was the season that changed his career.
Saba Goglichidze Joins Udinese
On August 5, 2025, Udinese announced the permanent signing of Goglichidze from Empoli. He signed a five-year contract running through 2030.
Udinese described him as a strong, fast and technical defender. The club also pointed to his 2024–25 Serie A campaign as evidence of his ability and consistency.
The reported transfer fee was around €4 million, according to Sky Sport. That figure should be treated as a reported transfer amount rather than an official figure published by Udinese in its announcement.
His arrival gave Udinese another young centre-back with Serie A experience.
There was more to it, too.
Goglichidze was coming into a club that had already seen the value of developing younger players. For him, the challenge was simple: turn a strong breakthrough season into regular football at his new club.
2025–26 Season at Udinese
Goglichidze made his competitive debut for Udinese in the 2025–26 season. FBref records eight Serie A appearances for the club, with four starts and 424 minutes, plus one Coppa Italia appearance.
His playing time was lower than it had been at Empoli.
That is normal after a transfer.
A new club means a new manager, new defensive partnerships and competition for places. A young defender also has to wait for the right opportunities.
One of his early Serie A appearances came against Inter on August 31, 2025, when he played 45 minutes.
Watford Loan
In February 2026, Udinese announced that Goglichidze had joined Watford on loan until June 30, 2026. The move gave him a chance to get more regular senior football in England.
FBref records 12 Championship appearances for Watford during the 2025–26 season, with 11 starts and 916 minutes. He did not score or assist in those league appearances.
The loan was temporary.
Udinese’s official announcement stated clearly that the arrangement ran until June 30, 2026. His permanent contract with Udinese was signed through 2030.
So, for accurate reporting, it is better to describe Watford as his 2026 loan club rather than call it a permanent transfer.
International Career With Georgia
Goglichidze has represented Georgia at several youth levels before reaching the senior national team.
Udinese’s August 2025 profile listed seven appearances for Georgia U18, including one goal, one appearance for the U19 side, seven for the U21 team and three senior appearances at that point.
His international progress followed a familiar route.
Youth football first.
Senior football later.
The move into the Georgian senior setup came during the same period in which his club career was taking off in Italy. That gave him another chance to test himself against experienced international players.
Public databases can show different national-team totals depending on their update date, so exact current caps should be checked against the latest Georgia match records before publication.
Playing Style
Goglichidze is primarily a centre-back.
His physical size is obvious. At roughly 1.93 metres, he has a useful frame for defending crosses, dealing with aerial balls and competing against bigger forwards. Sky Sport lists him at 193 cm, while other databases can vary slightly.
But his game is not based only on size.
Udinese specifically described him as fast and technical as well as physically strong.
His 2024–25 Empoli numbers also show a defender who was heavily involved in tackles, interceptions and clearances.
He has also spoken publicly about Sergio Ramos as a football idol. That gives some insight into the type of defender he admires: aggressive, confident and willing to defend with personality.
Saba Goglichidze Career Stats
The available senior league figures give a useful picture of his progress.
For Torpedo Kutaisi, Opta lists 30 league appearances between 2021 and 2023. Empoli gave him 33 Serie A appearances in 2024–25, followed by eight Serie A appearances for Udinese in 2025–26. His 2026 Watford loan produced 12 Championship appearances according to FBref.
Senior League Record
| Club | Period | League Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Torpedo Kutaisi | 2021–2023 | 30 |
| Empoli | 2024–2025 | 33 |
| Udinese | 2025–2026 | 8 |
| Watford | 2026 loan | 12 |
These figures refer to league competitions and are based on the latest statistical records available from the sources checked. Cup matches are counted separately.
Contract and Career Status
Udinese signed Goglichidze on a five-year deal in August 2025. The contract runs until June 2030.
His Watford spell was a loan and was scheduled to end on June 30, 2026.
That gives him a long contractual link with Udinese, but it would be unsafe to claim a specific 2026–27 starting role without an official squad announcement or current match evidence.
That distinction matters.
Good football reporting should separate confirmed facts from guesses.
Personal Life and Family
There is limited reliable public information about Goglichidze’s private life.
His birthplace and football development are well documented. His time at Torpedo Kutaisi is also clear. But detailed information about his parents, siblings, relationship status, children, private home, religion, personal spending or other private matters is not sufficiently established in the reliable sources checked.
So those details should not be presented as fact.
There is no need to fill gaps with rumors.
What Comes Next for Saba Goglichidze?
At 22, Goglichidze remains a young defender with experience in three different football environments: Georgian senior football, Italian top-flight football and English second-tier football.
That mix can be useful.
His strongest statistical season so far was his 2024–25 campaign with Empoli, when he played 33 Serie A matches and became a regular starter. His next task is to turn that level of performance into longer-term consistency.
The Udinese contract gives him time.
The challenge is earning minutes.
For a young centre-back, that often comes down to patience, fitness, decision-making and trust from the coaching staff. His career has already shown that he can step up when given a bigger role.
Final Thoughts
Saba Goglichidze’s career has moved quickly.
He started in Kutaisi. Then came Empoli. Then Udinese. A loan spell at Watford added another chapter in England.
The most important part is still ahead.
His 33-game Serie A season with Empoli showed that he can handle a demanding level of football. His move to Udinese gave him a longer-term home in Italy, while the Watford loan added another type of experience.
He is still only 22.
There is plenty of time.
If he can keep developing his defensive reading, consistency and ball work, the Georgian centre-back has a strong base for the next stage of his career. For now, the facts are simple: he is a young defender from Kutaisi who has already reached Serie A and earned a long-term Udinese contract.
And honestly, that is a pretty good start.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saba Goglichidze
1. Who is Saba Goglichidze?
Saba Goglichidze is a Georgian professional footballer who plays mainly as a centre-back.
2. How old is Saba Goglichidze?
He was born on June 25, 2004, making him 22 years old in August 2026.
3. Where was Saba Goglichidze born?
He was born in Kutaisi, Georgia.
4. What position does Saba Goglichidze play?
He primarily plays as a central defender.
5. Which club does Saba Goglichidze belong to?
He signed permanently for Udinese in August 2025 on a contract running until 2030.
6. Did Saba Goglichidze play for Watford?
Yes. He joined Watford on loan from Udinese in February 2026, with the loan scheduled to run until June 30, 2026.
7. How many Serie A games did he play for Empoli?
He made 33 Serie A appearances for Empoli during the 2024–25 season.
8. When did he start his senior career?
He made his senior debut for Torpedo Kutaisi in 2021.
9. Has he played for Georgia?
Yes. He progressed through Georgia’s youth teams and has represented the senior national team.
10. How tall is Saba Goglichidze?
He is listed at about 1.93 metres tall
