Schalke capture Georgian wunderkind
Monday, January 7, 2008
Article summary
FC Schalke 04 have signed the prodigious Georgian playmaker Levan Kenia from FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi, with the 17-year-old signing a contract until summer 2012.
Article body
FC Schalke 04 have signed Georgian prodigy Levan Kenia from FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi, with the 17-year-old playmaker signing a contract until summer 2012.
'Great vision'
Already capped six times by Georgia having made his first appearance for the senior national team at the age of just 16, Kenia has attracted interest from a number of clubs, and Schalke general manager Andreas Müller was delighted to have lured him to Gelsenkirchen. "We are very happy that we were able to get him," he said. "He is very talented, technically perfect and has great vision." Kenia will be given time to develop and is expected to play in the Schalke youth side until the end of the season, with a view to joining countryman Levan Kobiashvili in the first team in years to come.
Porto tie
A day short of his 17th birthday at the time, Kenia was one of the stars of Georgia's 2-0 win against Scotland in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying in October along with fellow youngsters Levan Mchedlidze and Georgi Makaridze. "The three teenagers were simply stunning," said coach Klaus Toppmöller. "Kenia was one of the best on the pitch."
