Solomon Kvirkvelia
Georgian footballer
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Solomon "Saba" Kvirkvelia (Order of Honor) (Georgian: სოლომონ "საბა" კვირკველია, romanized: solomon "saba" k'virk'velia, pronounced [solomon saba kʼʷiɾkʼʷelia]; born 6 February 1992) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Erovnuli Liga club Torpedo Kutaisi and the Georgia national team.
|
Kvirkvelia with Rotor Volgograd in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 February 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Samtredia, Georgia | ||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Torpedo Kutaisi | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Gloria Samtredia | |||
| 2005– | Dinamo Tbilisi | ||
| Tengiz Sulakvelidze Academy Tbilisi | |||
| 2009–2010 | Zenit Saint Petersburg | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2017 | Rubin Kazan | 87 | (3) |
| 2012–2013 | → Neftekhimik (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2017 | → Lokomotiv Moscow (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2017–2021 | Lokomotiv Moscow | 68 | (3) |
| 2020–2021 | → Rotor Volgograd (loan) | 19 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Metalist 1925 Kharkiv | 6 | (0) |
| 2022 | Gagra | 12 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Neftçi | 33 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Al-Okhdood | 33 | (1) |
| 2024 | Dinamo Tbilisi | 13 | (1) |
| 2025– | Torpedo | 25 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2009–2010 | Georgia U-19 | 6 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Georgia U-21 | 14 | (0) |
| 2014– | Georgia | 61 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 December 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 October 2024 | |||
He has been twice named as Footballer of the Year in Georgia.[1]
Club career
Rubin Kazan
After spending a season with Zenit Saint Petersburg, Kvirkvelia joined another Russian club, Rubin Kazan in 2011. He made his Russian Premier League debut for Rubin Kazan on 22 July 2011 in a game against FC Terek Grozny.[2]
Lokomotiv Moscow
In February 2017, Rubin Kazan and Lokomotiv Moscow agreed a loan deal for Kvirkvelia until the end of the 2016–17 season.[3] Kvirkvelia became a regular member of the team, participating 12 games until the end of the 2016–17 season. Lokomotiv won Russian Cup during this season, which was the first title for the Georgian with his new club.[4]
On 30 June 2017, he moved to Lokomotiv on a permanent basis, signing a four-year contract.[5]
Loan to Rotor Volgograd
On 20 August 2020, he joined Rotor Volgograd on loan for the 2020–21 season.[6]
Move to Ukraine
In October 2021, Kvirkvelia moved to the Ukrainian Premier League side Metalist 1925,[7] although his tenure was abruptly ended due to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Gagra
On 8 April 2022, Kvirkvelia returned to Georgia and signed with Gagra,[8] the first Georgian club in his career.
Neftçi
On 4 July 2022, Neftçi announced the signing of Kvirkvelia on a two-year contract.[9] On 16 July 2023, Kvirkvelia left Neftçi after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.[10]
Al-Okhdood
On 15 July 2023, Kvirkvelia joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Okhdood on a free transfer.[11]
Dinamo Tbilisi
On 2 September 2024, Dinamo Tbilisi announced the signing of Kvirkvelia on a contract until the end of the year.[12]
Torpedo Kutaisi
On 6 February 2025, Kvirkvelia moved to Torpedo, the runners-up of the previous Erovnuli Liga season, on a two-year deal.[13]
International career
On an international level, he debuted for Georgia in a friendly match against Liechtenstein on 5 March 2014.
In 2011–13, Kvirkvelia was repeatedly called up to the U21 team. Having participated in 14 competitive games, he is among the five all-time most capped players.[14]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 6 December 2025[15]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rubin Kazan | 2011–12 | Russian Premier League | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | |
| 2012–13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | – | 22 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10[c] | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 87 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 3 | ||
| Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (loan) | 2012–13 | Russian National Football League | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | ||
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2016–17 | Russian Premier League | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 41 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Total | 80 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 107 | 4 | ||
| Rotor Volgograd (loan) | 2020–21 | Russian Premier League | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| Metalist 1925 Kharkiv | 2021–22 | Ukrainian Premier League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Gagra | 2022 | Erovnuli Liga | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Neftçi | 2022–23 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 33 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | — | 42 | 2 | |
| Al-Okhdood | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 0 | ||
| Dinamo Tbilisi | 2024 | Erovnuli Liga | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||
| Torpedo Kutaisi | 2025 | Erovnuli Liga | 25 | 2 | – | 2[f] | 0 | 2[g] | 0 | 29 | 2 | |
| Career total | 326 | 11 | 28 | 1 | 39 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 396 | 12 | ||
- Includes Russian Cup, Ukrainian Cup, Azerbaijan Cup, King Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Russian Super Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- Appearances in UEFA Conference League qualifiers
- Appearances in Georgian Super Cup
International
- As of 6 October 2024[16]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 2014 | 7 | 0 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 61 | 0 | |