# Solomon Kvirkvelia

Solomon "Saba" Kvirkvelia (Order of Honor) (Georgian: სოლომონ "საბა" კვირკველია, romanized: solomon "saba" k'virk'velia, pronounced; born 6 February 1992) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Erovnuli Liga club Torpedo Kutaisi and the Georgia national team.
He has been twice named as Footballer of the Year in Georgia.

## Club career
### Rubin Kazan

After spending a season with Zenit Saint Petersburg, Kvirkvelia joined another Russian club, Rubin Kazan in 2011. He made his Russian Premier League debut for Rubin Kazan on 22 July 2011 in a game against FC Terek Grozny.

### Lokomotiv Moscow

In February 2017, Rubin Kazan and Lokomotiv Moscow agreed a loan deal for Kvirkvelia until the end of the 2016–17 season. Kvirkvelia became a regular member of the team, participating 12 games until the end of the 2016–17 season. Lokomotiv won Russian Cup during this season, which was the first title for the Georgian with his new club.
On 30 June 2017, he moved to Lokomotiv on a permanent basis, signing a four-year contract.

#### Loan to Rotor Volgograd

On 20 August 2020, he joined Rotor Volgograd on loan for the 2020–21 season.

### Move to Ukraine

In October 2021, Kvirkvelia moved to the Ukrainian Premier League side Metalist 1925, although his tenure was abruptly ended due to Russian invasion of Ukraine.

### Gagra

On 8 April 2022, Kvirkvelia returned to Georgia and signed with Gagra, the first Georgian club in his career.

### Neftçi

On 4 July 2022, Neftçi announced the signing of Kvirkvelia on a two-year contract. On 16 July 2023, Kvirkvelia left Neftçi after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.

### Al-Okhdood

On 15 July 2023, Kvirkvelia joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Okhdood on a free transfer.

### Dinamo Tbilisi

On 2 September 2024, Dinamo Tbilisi announced the signing of Kvirkvelia on a contract until the end of the year.

### Torpedo Kutaisi

On 6 February 2025, Kvirkvelia moved to Torpedo, the runners-up of the previous Erovnuli Liga season, on a two-year deal.

## International career

On an international level, he debuted for Georgia in a friendly match against Liechtenstein on 5 March 2014.
In 2011–13, Kvirkvelia was repeatedly called up to the U21 team. Having participated in 14 competitive games, he is among the five all-time most capped players.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 8 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Rubin Kazan | 2011–12 | Russian Premier League | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2012–13 | Russian Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2013–14 | Russian Premier League | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 22 | 0 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2014–15 | Russian Premier League | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 1 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2015–16 | Russian Premier League | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 1 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2016–17 | Russian Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Rubin Kazan | Total | Total | 87 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 3 |
| Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (loan) | 2012–13 | Russian National Football League | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2016–17 | Russian Premier League | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2017–18 | Russian Premier League | 29 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 3 |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2018–19 | Russian Premier League | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 1 |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2019–20 | Russian Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | Total | Total | 80 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 107 | 4 |
| Rotor Volgograd (loan) | 2020–21 | Russian Premier League | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 |
| Metalist 1925 Kharkiv | 2021–22 | Ukrainian Premier League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Gagra | 2022 | Erovnuli Liga | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Neftçi | 2022–23 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 33 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 2 |
| Al-Okhdood | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 0 |
| Dinamo Tbilisi | 2024 | Erovnuli Liga | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 301 | 9 | 28 | 1 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 367 | 10 |
* ↑ Includes Russian Cup, Ukrainian Cup, Azerbaijan Cup, King Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance in Russian Super Cup
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

### International

    As of 6 October 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Georgia | 2014 | 7 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2015 | 5 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2017 | 6 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2018 | 7 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2020 | 5 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2022 | 6 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2023 | 7 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 61 | 0 |

## Honours

Rubin Kazan
* Russian Cup: 2011–12
Lokomotiv Moscow
* Russian Premier League: 2017–18
* Russian Cup: 2016–17, 2018–19
Individual
* Georgian Footballer of the Year: 2014, 2017