Wikipedia

Georges Mikautadze

Georges Mikautadze (Order of Honor) (Georgian: გიორგი მიქაუტაძე, romanized: giorgi mikaut'adze; born 31 October 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Villarreal. Born in France, he plays for the Georgia national team.[1]

Georges Mikautadze
Mikautadze with Lyon in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Villarreal
Number 9
Youth career
2007–2008 FC Gerland
2008–2015 Lyon
2015–2016 Saint-Priest
2016–2018 Metz
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Metz B 23 (9)
2019–2023 Metz 42 (25)
2020–2022 → Seraing (loan) 49 (28)
2023–2024 Ajax 5 (0)
2024 → Metz (loan) 20 (13)
2024 Metz 0 (0)
2024–2025 Lyon 36 (12)
2025– Villarreal 32 (13)
International career‡
2021– Georgia 43 (23)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:50, 24 May 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:45, 29 March 2026 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Mikautadze took his first steps in football at FC Gerland before joining the Lyon youth academy. In 2016, he moved to Metz's football academy.[2]

Metz

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2019–20: Debut season

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Mikautadze made his professional debut with Metz in a 4–1 Ligue 1 loss to Nice on 7 December 2019.[3] On 10 December 2019, he signed a four-year deal with Metz, which was his first professional contract.[4] He struggled to make an impact in his first senior season, playing mostly for the reserve team.[5]

2020–2022: Loans to Seraing

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In June 2020, Mikautadze was one of six Metz players to join Belgian First Division B side Seraing on loan.[6] After his first nine matches with Seraing, he had scored 15 times, including four on his debut against Lommel.[7] Overall, with 19 goals he became a joint topscorer of the season. He netted three goals in an aggregate 6–3 play-off victory over Waasland-Beveren. For his contribution to Seraing's successful league campaign, Mikautadze was named in Team of the Season[8] and was awarded the Métallo d'Or, the title annually given to the best Seraing player, after the fans had voted for him.[9]

On 30 August 2021, he returned to Seraing on another loan, with the club now promoted to the Belgian top tier.[10] The team ended up in the relegation zone, although it remained in the league due to the only goal scored by Mikautadze in the play-offs against Molenbeek.[11]

2022–23: Return from loan, Ligue 2 top scorer

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In the summer of 2022, Mikautadze returned to Metz. After being a nominee for the award in August, by March 2023 Mikautadze was the leading goalscorer of the league, and the National Union of Professional Players (UNPF) named him Player of the Month.[12] Having added nine more goals in April and May, he was selected in Team of the Week six times in a row during this period.[13] By the end of the season he was the top goalscorer and best player of the league.[14]

With Metz promoted to Ligue 1 in 2023–24, Mikautadze started the new season by scoring twice against Marseille and Clermont and providing an assist in the opening game against Rennes.[citation needed]

Ajax

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On 30 August 2023, Eredivisie club Ajax announced the signing of Mikautadze on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €16 million, potentially rising to €19 million with add-ons.[15][16] He made his debut, starting and playing the full game, in a 0–0 draw away at Fortuna Sittard.[17] Mikautadze made his European debut in Ajax's 2–0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amsterdam Arena. During the first half of the 2023–24 campaign, Mikautadze made just nine appearances in all competitions for Ajax, failing to score a goal.[18]

Return to Metz

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On 4 January 2024, Mikautadze returned to Metz, arriving on loan from Ajax until the end of the 2023–24 season.[19][20] The deal included an option-to-buy, reported to be around €13 million.[18]

He failed to score in his first five games, but then netted ten in as many matches, scoring his first goal since returning to the club in a 2–1 defeat to Lyon as well as a brace in a vital 2–1 win over Lens, another goal against Clermont, a penalty against Nantes, a brace in a 4–3 defeat to Champions League-chasing Brest, the only goal in a 1–0 win over Le Havre, a penalty in a 2–1 defeat to Lille and a lob over Steve Mandanda in a 3–2 defeat against Rennes where Mikautadze got a controversial red card which was overturned by appeal.[21] In mid-April, Get French Football News found it incredible that a player with only 15 appearances in Metz's 29 matches accounted for 30% of the goals scored by the team.[22]

Three times during this season, namely in August, February and April, Mikautadze was voted Player of the Month by Metz fans.[23][24] He eventually concluded the second half of the 2023–24 season by scoring 13 goals in 20 matches; however, his team was relegated following their defeat in the playoffs against Saint-Étienne.[25]

Lyon

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On 18 July 2024, despite Metz having reached an agreement with Monaco previously, Mikautadze refused to join Monaco and signed for his former club Lyon on a four-year deal, for €18.5 million, with €4.5 million in potential bonuses and a 15% sell-on clause.[26] He chose to have the number 69 on his jersey as it is the number of the Rhône department, of which Lyon is the préfecture.[27]

One month later, on 18 August 2024, he played in his first game for Lyon, a 3–0 defeat away to Rennes.[28] Mikautadze opened his goal-scoring account with a brace in a 2–2 draw against Auxerre on 27 October 2024.[29]

On 28 November 2024, on the fifth matchday of the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League league phase, he scored two goals in a 4–1 victory over Qarabağ, his first goals in European competitions.[30]

Villarreal

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On 1 September 2025, Mikautadze was transferred to Villarreal, signing a six-year contract with the Spanish side, where he chose to wear Number 9.[31] On 20 September, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 win against Osasuna.[32] On 1 October, he netted his first goal in the UEFA Champions League against Juventus in a 2–2 away draw.[33]

In February 2026, Mikautadze was named LaLiga Player of the Month after scoring three times and providing one assist in four successive matches.[34] He finished the season as the team topscorer with 13 league goals and also became the most prolific player of the Spanish top league among its debutants this season.[35]

International career

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Mikautadze received a first call-up for the Georgia national team from French coach Willy Sagnol in March 2021. He told the press that he had been dreaming about playing for Georgia since his childhood.[36]

Mikautadze made his debut with the Georgia national team in a 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification loss to Sweden on 25 March 2021.[37] In June 2021, he netted his first international goal in a 2–1 away friendly win against Romania.[38] On 12 October 2023, Mikautadze scored four goals, his first international hat-trick and poker, in an 8–0 win against Thailand, the record win of the Georgia national team.[39]

During Georgia's UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, Mikautadze scored three goals in ten matches (including the play-offs), recording two against Cyprus and an equaliser against Norway, contributing to his country's first-ever qualification to a major tournament.[40] He would then be selected in Georgia's 26-man squad for the final tournament in Germany.[41] On 18 June, Mikautadze scored his nation's first goal in the European competition, by netting the equaliser against Turkey in Georgia's opening match, which ended in a 3–1 defeat.[42] Four days later, he scored a penalty in his side's second group match, a 1–1 draw against the Czech Republic.[43] On 26 June, Mikautadze scored another penalty in a 2–0 victory over Portugal, securing his nation's qualification to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams, and concluding the group stage as top scorer in the competition with three goals in total.[44] Following the conclusion of the tournament, Mikautadze finished level with five other players on three goals, and thus shared the top scorer award.[45]

In 2024, Mikautadze was awarded the Order of Honor by the President of Georgia following the debut performance of the Georgia National Team at the Euro 2024.[46]

Personal life

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Mikautadze's family moved from Georgia to France in the late 1990s. Mikautadze was born and raised in France, and made regular visits to Georgia during the summers. He grew up speaking Georgian at home, having been taught by his parents.[47][1]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 24 May 2026[48]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Metz B 2018–19 Championnat National 3 61———61
2018–19 Régional 1 ———
2019–20 Championnat National 3 178———178
Total 239———239
Metz 2019–20 Ligue 1 10——0010
2020–21 Ligue 1 10———10
2022–23 Ligue 2 372331——4024
Total 392331—004124
Seraing (loan) 2020–21 Belgian First Division B 211910—2[b]32422
2021–22 Belgian Pro League 28934—2[c]13314
Total 492844—445736
Ajax 2023–24 Eredivisie 60102[d]0—90
Metz (loan) 2023–24 Ligue 1 201300—2[e]12214
Lyon 2024–25 Ligue 1 34112211[d]4—4717
2025–26 Ligue 1 21———21
Total 361222114—4918
Villarreal 2025–26 La Liga 3213317[f]1—4215
Career total 2059813820565243116
  1. ↑ Includes Coupe de France, Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup, Copa del Rey
  2. ↑ Appearances in Belgian First Division B promotion play-off
  3. ↑ Appearances in Belgian Pro League relegation play-off
  4. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ Appearances in Ligue 1 relegation/promotion play-offs
  6. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

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As of match played 28 March 2026[49]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Georgia 202171
202261
202397
2024137
202565
202622
Total4323
Scores and results list Georgia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mikautadze goal.
List of international goals scored by Georges Mikautadze
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
12 June 2021Ilie Oană Stadium, Ploiești, Romania Romania1–02–1Friendly
22 June 2022Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia Gibraltar3–04–02022–23 UEFA Nations League C
328 March 2023Batumi Stadium, Batumi, Georgia Norway1–11–1UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
417 June 2023AEK Arena, Larnaca, Cyprus Cyprus1–02–1UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
512 October 2023Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia Thailand3–08–0Friendly
64–0
75–0
87–0
915 October 2023Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia Cyprus4–04–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
109 June 2024Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro Montenegro2–03–1Friendly
1118 June 2024Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany Turkey1–11–3UEFA Euro 2024
1222 June 2024Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany Czech Republic1–01–1UEFA Euro 2024
1326 June 2024Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany Portugal2–02–0UEFA Euro 2024
147 September 2024Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia Czech Republic3–04–12024–25 UEFA Nations League B
1516 November 2024Batumi Stadium, Batumi, Georgia Ukraine1–11–12024–25 UEFA Nations League B
1619 November 2024Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic Czech Republic1–21–22024–25 UEFA Nations League B
1720 March 2025Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia Armenia2–03–02024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs
183–0
1923 March 2025Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia2–06–12024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs
205–0
217 September 2025Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia Bulgaria3–03–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2229 March 2026Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania Lithuania1–02–0Friendly
232–0

Honours

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References

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  1. 1 2 Thyssen, Emmanuel (18 June 2024). "Natia et Lasha Mikautadze sont des parents comblés: "Georges est une fierté pour notre famille, en France et en Géorgie"". La Dernière Heure (in French). Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "მეცმა" ქართველთან კონტრაქტი გააფორმა - მიქაუტაძე ლოთარინგიაში სამი წელი ითამაშებს". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Nice vs. Metz - 7 December 2019 - Soccerway". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "Metz : Georges Mikautadze passe professionnel - Foot - L1 - Metz". L'Équipe. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "FC Metz Amid interest from the Premier League, set a price tag". FootballExpress.in. 13 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Metz send 6 players on loan to Belgian 2nd division side & satellite club Seraing". getfootballnewsfrance.com. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Maak kennis met Georges Mikautadze: het doelpuntenfenomeen in 1B". sporza.be (in Dutch). 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "D1B Pro League 'XI van het seizoen' // SPITS (2) // Georges Mikautadze (Seraing)" [D1B Pro League 'XI of the season' // STRIKER (2) // Georges Mikautadze (Seraing)]. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "Georges Mikautadze reçoit le titre de Métallo d'Or" (in French). 17 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "MERCATO : GEORGES IS BACK" (in French). Seraing. 30 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "Molenbeek vs Seraing". fotmob.com. 23 April 2022. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "GEORGES MIKAUTADZE SACRÉ EN LIGUE 2 BKT" (in French). UNPF. 18 April 2023. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "მიქაუტაძე და დავითაშვილი ლიგა 2-ის ტურის სიმბოლურში ისევ ერთად მოხვდნენ". europop.ge (in Georgian). 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Trophées UNFP: Palmarès des meilleurs joueurs" (in French). ligue2.fr. 28 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "Ajax signs Mikautadze". ajax.nl. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024.
  16. ↑ Pietrzela, Andrea (30 August 2023). "Mikautadze all'Ajax, è ufficiale: contratto fino al 2028". Goal.com (in Italian). Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "Fortuna Sittard 0-0 Ajax - Eredivisie 2023/2024 Live". Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Ajax announce Georges Mikautadze departure". OneFootball. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  19. ↑ "Le roi est de retour!" [The king is back!] (in French). FC Metz. 4 January 2024. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  20. ↑ "Georges Mikautadze on loan to FC Metz". AFC Ajax. 4 January 2024. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  21. ↑ "Mikautadze double boosts Metz in relegation fight". Associated Press. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "GEORGES MIKAUTADZE – FROM AJAX OUTCAST TO METZ'S SAVIOUR?". getfootballnewsfrance.com. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "Georges Mikautadze Grenat du mois de février Equipe Pro" (in French). FC Metz. 6 March 2024. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  24. ↑ "Georges Mikautadze Grenat du mois d'avril". fcmetz.com (in French). 4 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  25. ↑ Matchett, Karl (17 June 2024). "Georgia's best chance to cause a Euro 2024 upset isn't Khvicha Kvaratskhelia". The Independent.
  26. ↑ "French club Lyon signs Georgia forward Georges Mikautadze on a four-year deal". apnews.com. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  27. ↑ "Georges Mikautadze portera le numéro 69 à l'OL". L’Équipe. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "Direct.Rennes-OL". L’Equipe. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  29. ↑ "Lyon vs Auxerre match report". espn.com. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  30. ↑ "Qarabağ vs Lyon Live". UEFA. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  31. ↑ "Benvingut, Georges Mikautadze !". Villareal CF. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  32. ↑ "Tenacity rewarded against Osasuna (2-1)". Villarreal CF. 20 September 2025.
  33. ↑ "Villarreal vs Juventus: UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League phase". UEFA.com. 1 October 2025.
  34. ↑ "The Georgian striker dedicated the award to the Villarreal fans". Villarreal CF. 8 March 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  35. ↑ "ყველაზე შედეგიანი დებიუტანტები ევროპის ტოპ 5 ლიგაში" [Mikautadze is among most prolific debutants of top five leagues]. lagazzetta.ge (in Georgian). 25 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "მიქაუტაძე: ჩემი ქვეყნის ნაკრების ღირსების დაცვაზე ბავშვობიდან ვოცნებობდი". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 22 March 2021. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  37. ↑ "Match Report of Sweden vs Georgia - 2021-03-25 - WC Qualification". Global Sports Archive. 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  38. ↑ "Romania vs Georgia". EUROSPORT. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  39. ↑ "Mikautadze s'offre un quadruplé face à la Thaïlande dans une victoire historique". So Foot (in French). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  40. ↑ Davis, Krishan (17 June 2024). "How the hell have Georgia qualified for Euro 2024?! 'Kvaradona' & Co out to cause more shocks on tournament debut". Goal.com.
  41. ↑ "საქართველოს ნაკრების შემადგენლობა ევრო 2024-ის მოსამზადებელ ეტაპზე" [The composition of the Georgian national team at the preparatory stage of Euro 2024] (in Georgian). Georgian Football Federation. 22 May 2024. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  42. ↑ Harris, Daniel (18 June 2024). "Turkey 3-1 Georgia: Euro 2024 – live reaction". The Guardian.
  43. ↑ Fisher, Ben (22 June 2024). "Mikautadze and Georgia denied historic victory as Schick saves Czech Republic". The Observer. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  44. ↑ "Georges Mikautadze goes out on his own in EURO 2024 Alipay+ Top Scorer race". UEFA. 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  45. ↑ "EURO 2024 Alipay+ Top Scorers: Gakpo, Kane, Mikautadze, Musiala, Olmo, Schranz". UEFA. 14 July 2024. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  46. ↑ პრეზიდენტი - მინდა, ერთობის სახელით, ეს ჯილდო გადავცე ბიჭებს და ვუსურვო, რომ გზა მათი გამარჯვებისა უსასრულო ყოფილიყოს Archived 6 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine, Administration of the President of Georgia, 2 July 2024
  47. ↑ "საქართველო ევროპაზე - გიორგი მიქაუტაძის ცხოვრების სულ სხვა ეპიზოდები". tvpirveli.ge (in Georgian). TV Pirveli. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  48. ↑ Georges Mikautadze at Soccerway
  49. ↑ Georges Mikautadze at National-Football-Teams.com Edit this at Wikidata
  50. ↑ "Georges Mikautadze sacré meilleur buteur de D1B" (in French). DH. 25 April 2021.
  51. ↑ "Georges Mikautadze s'épanouit cette saison au FC Metz" (in French). L'Équipe. 8 April 2023.
  52. ↑ "Trophées UNFP. Le Messin Georges Mikautadze élu meilleur joueur de Ligue 2". ouest-france.fr (in French). 28 May 2023. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  53. ↑ "Ligue 2 : Arouna Sangante dans l'équipe type de la saison". Wiwsport.com (in French). 29 May 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  54. ↑ "UEFA EURO 2024 Top Goalscorer". UEFA. 17 July 2024. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  55. ↑ "Mikautadze, LALIGA EA SPORTS Player of the Month for February". La Liga. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
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