Khvicha
Overview
Khvicha (ხვიჩა) is a Georgian masculine given name commonly used in Georgian-speaking regions. In South Korean football media, when it is written only as "Khvicha," it usually refers to the Georgian national team winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (born February 12, 2001, in Tbilisi). He led Napoli to a Serie A title and rose to global stardom, then transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in 2025 and experienced a UEFA Champions League title; he is a current top-level wide forward.
Main content
Name and background
Khvicha is the Korean transliteration of the Georgian name 'ხვიჩა'. The surname Kvaratskhelia is known to derive from a place name in western Georgia. His father Badri Kvaratskhelia was also a former footballer, and Khvicha began playing football in Tbilisi's youth system from a young age. At 183 cm with a solid physique and right-footed, he plays mainly as a left winger, a type who cuts inside from the left and creates both shots and passes.
Club career
- Early Georgia and Russia (2017–2022): After making his professional debut at Dinamo Tbilisi and a loan spell at Rustavi, he moved to Russian Premier League club Lokomotiv Moscow in 2019, then immediately to Rubin Kazan, where he was a starter from 2019 to 2022. After the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, under FIFA's exceptional measures he briefly suspended his contract and played for Dinamo Batumi while preparing for a move to Europe.
- Napoli (2022–2025): He joined Napoli in the summer of 2022 and in his first season, 2022-23, appeared in more than 30 league matches, recording double-digit goals and assists and playing a key role in the team's first Serie A title in 33 years (Scudetto). He was named the league's MVP that season and received the nickname "Kvaradona," a comparison to Diego Maradona. In 2023-24 the team struggled, but he maintained his individual form, and in 2024-25 he played as a key player under Antonio Conte before transferring in January 2025.
- Paris Saint-Germain (2025–): In January 2025 he joined PSG for a transfer fee of about €70 million and signed a contract until 2029. In his first half-season he lifted the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France, and on May 31, 2025, in the UEFA Champions League final (PSG 5-0 Inter Milan) he scored himself to reach the top of Europe.
National team
As a symbolic figure of the Georgia national team, since his senior international debut in 2019 he has led the attack, moving between the front line and the flanks. He helped Georgia reach the UEFA Euro 2024 finals, the country's first major tournament, and in the group-stage match against Portugal he scored the opening goal in the second minute, becoming a key figure in the 2-0 win. Georgia lost to Spain in the round of 16, but it was recorded as one of the tournament's biggest upsets.
Playing style and assessment
His explosive first step, dribbling in tight spaces, and strong left-footed curling shots are signature weapons. His ability to shield the ball with his back to a defender and then turn, along with his tactical flexibility to move freely between the flank and the center, allow him to be used in multiple positions. However, injury risk from rough tackles, defensive contribution, and inconsistency in finishing are challenges that are consistently pointed out.
Major awards
Serie A title and league MVP (2022-23), Ligue 1 title (2024-25), Coupe de France (2025), UEFA Champions League title (2024-25), multiple Georgian Player of the Year awards, and a Ballon d'Or nomination (2023) are representative examples.
Recent developments
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Khvicha has established himself as PSG's starting left winger, and at the 2025 summer FIFA Club World Cup he contributed to the team's run to the final but lost to Chelsea in the final, finishing as runner-up. In European football, his transfer fee and salary, as well as the division of roles within PSG's attack, continue to be topics of discussion, and for the Georgia national team he is being used as a key card for qualification for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. In South Korea, media exposure has increased due to his colleague relationship with Lee Kang-in and his matchup with Son Heung-min, and the notation "Khvicha" itself is trending toward becoming an idiomatic expression referring to a Georgian player. In addition, narratives such as his affectionate farewell with Napoli fans and his Champions League title at PSG are being re-examined, and documentary and interview content is increasing.
Related topics
- [[흐비차 크바라츠헬리아]]
- [[나폴리]]
- [[파리 생제르맹]]
- [[조지아 축구 국가대표팀]]
- [[UEFA 챔피언스리그]]