· 24 August 2025, 16:30
**Newcastle United have a new forward arriving at the club next week as Georgian wonderkid Vakhtang Salia finally completes his move to the Toon.**
The 17-year-old Dinamo Tbilisi star turns 18 on 30th August and will join Newcastle United that same day.
Salia signed a professional contract with Newcastle United, which begins when he turns 18. It has been a long time coming, but the move is now near.
Vakhtang Salia has already been compared to his fellow countryman Khvicha Kvarataskhelia, and Newcastle did well to beat other top clubs to his signature.
Vakhtang Salia has said his goodbyes to Dinamo Tbilisi
Vakhtang Salia will become a Newcastle player next week
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After coming through the academy at Tbilisi, it will be a bittersweet moment for Salia, who issued a statement to the Tbilisi fans via [social media](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNi3RtHMiDe/?img_index=1) ahead of his move.
> “The moment has come when I have to say goodbye to my home club,” he said. “It's not easy, but I know it's part of football and a new phase of my career ahead.“I spent a lot of time at Dinamo - after almost every age group in the academy, I adapted to the first team shirt and that’s where I became a professional footballer. I'll never forget my debut goal scored in Torpedo's net.“I learned everything I know now at this club, and I’m very grateful to everyone I’ve met along the way - coaches, teammates, management, staff and fans.
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> “I know that there is a long way ahead of me and I am ready to give everything I can to succeed. Farewell, but I believe that we will definitely meet in the future.Blue and white all the way!”
Could Vakhtang Salia make a quick run at the first-team?
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Although Salia will be heading to the development squad alongside Park Seung-soo, the Georgian has plenty of first-team experience, already having played over 50 games for Dinamo Tbilisi, scoring eight goals for the senior side.
As a centre-forward, the way things are looking, there could be a quick route to the Newcastle first team, given the lack of options available to Eddie Howe, although we highly doubt he'll be used this season.
The Under 21s can do with all the help they can get, it seems, after a 5-0 drubbing at home to Chelsea over the weekend. It's baffling how a squad of so many talented youngsters can fail so spectacularly to come together as a team.