On the back of Beka Mikeltadze’s success in the A-League Men, Newcastle Jets have lured fellow Georgian Beka Dartsmelia to the Hunter Valley.
Mikeltadze took the Isuzu UTE A-League by storm in his first season, finishing second to Melbourne City’s Jamie Maclaren in the Golden Boot race with 13 goals.
After his performances under Arthur Papas, the Jets have turned to another Beka and Georgian – this time 22-year-old midfielder Dartsmelia on a multi-year deal.
Former Georgia Under-21 captain Dartsmelia arrives from Lokomotivi Tbilisi in his homeland, where he scored two goals in 21 league appearances in 2022.
He is Newcastle’s 11th new signing after Brandon O’Neill, Reno Piscopo, Trent Buhagiar, Jaushua Sotirio, Rory Jordan, Mark Natta, James McGarry, Carl Jenkinson, Daniel Stynes and Callum Timmins.
“We’re pleased to have signed a player of Beka’s quality,” said Jets manager Papas.
“He has captained the Georgia Under 21’s team as well as his club side in Georgia.
“He’s a left-footed player who is a specialist on set-pieces as well as being very creative in the final third. We’re looking forward to having him at the Newcastle Jets.”
2022-23 A-League Men INS and OUTS
Dartsmelia started his career at Mikeltadze’s former club Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia.
He was a two-time Erovnuli Liga – the top division in Georgia – runner-up with Dinamo before joining Lokomotivi in 2019.
During his time at Lokomotivi, Dartsmelia was a David Kipiani Cup in 2019.
He also featured in Europa League qualifying in 2020 as Lokomotivi took down Dinamo Moscow and Universitatea Craiova before falling to Granada.
NEWCASTLE JETS – INS, OUTS AND RE-SIGNINGS
In: Brandon O’Neill (Perth Glory), Reno Piscopo (Wellington Phoenix), Trent Buhagiar (Sydney FC), Jaushua Sotirio (Wellington Phoenix), Rory Jordan (Macarthur FC), Mark Natta (Western Sydney Wanderers), James McGarry (Newcastle Jets), Carl Jenkinson (Nottingham Forest), Daniel Stynes (Perth Glory), Callum Timmins (Perth Glory), Beka Dartsmelia (Lokomotivi Tbilisi)
Out: Dylan Murnane, Taylor Regan, Valentino Yuel, Jordan O’Doherty, Olivier Boumal, Savvas Siatravanis, Mario Arques, Brandon Wilson, Samuel Silvera (Central Coast Mariners), Riley Warland, Daniel Penha
Re-signings: Archie Goodwin, Michael Weier, Jason Hoffman, Lucas Mauragis (loaned to Wellington)
