Giorgi Mamardashvili to undergo Liverpool medical ahead of transfer

26 Aug 2024

Giorgi Mamardashvili is set for a medical ahead of completing a move to Liverpool.

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A deal has been agreed that will see the Valencia goalkeeper spend the upcoming season in Spain before officially moving to Anfield next summer.

The Premier League club will pay €30million plus €5m in add-ons with the 23-year-old being loaned back to La Liga before then being expected to compete for a place next season.

Alisson will remain as the club’s undisputed No 1 in the meantime with Caoimhin Kelleher, the reserve goalkeeper in recent years, as second choice.

Alisson is under contract until 2027 with Kelleher’s terms set to expire in 2026.

Mamardashvili starred for Georgia during their run to the European Championship last 16 before their eventual exit at the hands of champions Spain.

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He kept 13 clean sheets in 37 La Liga games for Valencia last season.

They signed North Macedonian goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski on a free transfer from Rayo Vallecano earlier this summer.

GO DEEPER

Why Liverpool want Mamardashvili - the 'Georgian Wall' 'keeper coveted across Europe

So, how good is he?

Mamardashvili was Georgia’s hero in goal and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia their danger man up top as they beat Portugal 2-0 in their final group game to reach the knockout stages at their first major tournament.

Mamardashvili made a record-equalling 21 saves in the group stage — eight more than any other goalkeeper — and prevented 3.6 goals, based on expected goals on target (xGOT). That was the best-ever performance recorded in the group stage.

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Photo The Athletic

Over Georgia’s four matches, including their 4-1 last-16 defeat to Spain, he stopped 3.17 goals based on xGOT, as shown below.

That was off the back of his exploits for Valencia last season, where he was La Liga’s outstanding goalkeeper.

He played 37 of 38 games in the Spanish top flight, conceding 34 goals, kept 13 clean sheets and saved three of the six penalties he faced.

His saves prevented around 10 goals more than the average keeper would be expected to concede, based on xG, which was the most impressive goalkeeping display in La Liga since Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak in 2020-21.

(Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

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