Irakli Yegoian
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 19 March 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Tbilisi, Georgia | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Excelsior | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2012 | Sportclub Markelo | ||
| 2012–2013 | FC Den Helder | ||
| 2013–2017 | Ajax | ||
| 2017–2024 | Twente | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2025 | Vitesse | 36 | (8) |
| 2025– | Excelsior | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Georgia U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023– | Georgia U21 | 13 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 June 2025 | |||
Irakli Yegoian (Georgian: ირაკლი ეგოიანი; born 19 March 2004) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Excelsior.
Early life
Yegoian was born on 19 March 2004 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Of Armenian descent through his parents, he moved with his family to the Netherlands at a young age.[1]
Club career
Vitesse
Yegoian came through the youth systems at Ajax and Twente but did not make a senior league appearance for Twente. In August 2024 he joined Vitesse and made his first start for the club on 30 August in a 1–1 home draw with FC Eindhoven in the Eerste Divisie. Georgian daily Lelo wrote in January 2025 that he had "established himself in the main squad of Vitesse, scored goals and made effective assists".[2] He finished the 2024–25 season with nine goals and five assists and was voted Vitesse's Player of the Year.[3]
Excelsior
On 19 August 2025, Vitesse listed him among the departing players,[4] shortly after the KNVB's withdrawal of the club's professional licence was upheld by a court on 8 August 2025.[5] The same day, Eredivisie club Excelsior announced his signing on a three-year contract through 2028.[6]
International
Yegoian was initially called up to Georgia U16s for an international tournament held in Israel in March 2020. This is where he scored his first international goal in a 2–0 win over Belarus.[7]
Two years later, Yegoian became a member of the U18s, taking part in a four-team tournament in Portugal.[8]
Starting from the autumn of 2023, Yegoian made six appearances for the U21 team who successfully conducted their 2025 UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign.[9][10] Yegoian took part in all three matches of Georgia's Euro Under-21.
Style of play
Yegoian plays as a midfielder. Right-footed, he is known for his work ethic.[11]
Honours
Individual
- Vitesse Player of the Year: 2024–25
References
- ^ "Vitesse heeft weer Georgiër: 'Een van de mooiste momenten uit mijn leven'" [Vitesse has another Georgian: 'One of the best moments of my life'] (in Dutch). Omroep Gelderland. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "საქართველოს ახალგაზრდული ნაკრებიდან სომხეთის ეროვნულ გუნდში?" [From the Georgian youth team to the Armenian national team?] (in Georgian). Lelo. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "იეგოიანი საქართველოს ნაკრებში თამაშით ამაყია" [Yegoian is proud of his play at Georgian team]. crystalsport.ge (in Georgian). 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ "Update vertrekkende spelers Vitesse" [Update on players leaving Vitesse]. SBV Vitesse (in Dutch). 18 August 2025. Archived from the original on 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ "Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters". Reuters. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ "Excelsior haalt energieke middenvelder Yegoian binnen" [Excelsior bring in energetic midfielder Yegoian]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 19 August 2025. Archived from the original on 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ "U16.საქართველოს ნაკრებმა ბელარუსს მოუგო" [Georgia U16 beat Belarus] (in Georgian). sportall.ge. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ "18-წლამდე ნაკრები პორტუგალიაში ითამაშებს" [U18 team heads to Portugal]. Lelo (in Georgian). 22 March 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ "ახალგაზრდულმა ნაკრებმა შესარჩევი ციკლისთვის მზადება დაიწყო" [Youth team starts preparation for qualifying round]. nakrebi.ge (in Georgian). 3 September 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ "Under-21 EURO play-offs: Czechia, Finland, Georgia qualify". UEFA. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "Georgische ontdekking in Arnhem: Irakli Yegoian vertolkt voortrekkersrol bij Vitesse" [Georgian discovery in Arnhem: Irakli Yegoian plays a pioneering role at Vitesse] (in Dutch). De Gelderlander. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.