Saba Lobjanidze Bio
Saba Lobjanidze is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United and represents the Georgia national team. Born in Tbilisi, he developed through the youth ranks of Georgian football before moving abroad to Denmark and Turkey, where he built a reputation as a quick, direct attacking player. He joined Atlanta United in the summer of 2023 and quickly became a productive contributor in Major League Soccer, finishing his first full MLS season with double-digit goal contributions and helping his club reach the playoffs.
Early Life and Background
Saba Lobjanidze was born on 18 December 1994 in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. He grew up in a country with a deep football tradition, and the sport played a central role in his childhood. According to available biographical records, Lobjanidze began playing organized football at the age of ten, joining Norchi Dinamoeli, a well-known youth program associated with the Dinamo Tbilisi system.
His time at Norchi Dinamoeli introduced him to the tactical and technical demands of competitive football and prepared him for the next step in his development. As a young player in Tbilisi, he trained in an environment that emphasized ball control, movement off the ball, and quick transitions, traits that would later define his professional style on the wing.
Path to Soccer
Lobjanidze progressed from Norchi Dinamoeli into the senior setup of Dinamo Tbilisi, one of the most prominent clubs in Georgian football. He began his senior career with Dinamo Tbilisi II in 2013, gaining experience in the reserve team before earning promotion to the first team in 2014. He spent the 2015–2016 seasons establishing himself in the senior squad and also went out on loan to Chikhura Sachkhere in 2016 to gather regular first-team minutes.
His performances in Georgia attracted attention abroad, and in June 2017 he signed a three-year contract with Danish club Randers. The move to the Danish Superliga marked his first experience of a top European league outside the post-Soviet space and represented a significant step in his path to becoming a full international-level winger.
Saba Lobjanidze Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Lobjanidze began his senior career at Dinamo Tbilisi II in 2013, playing in the lower divisions of Georgian football to gain experience. He moved up to the Dinamo Tbilisi first team in 2014 and became part of a squad competing in the Erovnuli Liga, the top tier of Georgian club football. During this period, he developed his attacking instincts and improved his finishing in front of goal.
In 2016, he was loaned to Chikhura Sachkhere to gain consistent first-team minutes, a common step for young Georgian prospects. He returned to Dinamo Tbilisi before securing his first move abroad, joining Randers in Denmark in June 2017.
Randers Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Lobjanidze signed a three-year contract with Randers in June 2017, stepping into the Danish Superliga. His pace, dribbling, and willingness to take on defenders made him a dangerous attacking option for the Danish side. The standout stretch of his Randers spell came in April 2018, when he scored six goals in six games, including a hat-trick against Sønderjyske.
His strong April form earned him the Player of the Month award among Georgian football players and led to two selections to the Danish Superliga Team of the Week. Over his time at Randers, he established himself as one of the more exciting Georgian players working abroad and caught the attention of clubs in larger European leagues.
Turkish Premier Division Period (2020–2023)
On 30 January 2020, Lobjanidze signed with Turkish top-flight club MKE Ankaragücü. He made his debut on 2 February in a 1–1 league draw against Kasımpaşa and adapted quickly to the demands of Turkish football. After Ankaragücü were relegated from the Süper Lig, he moved on a permanent basis to Hatayspor in June 2021, signing a three-year contract.
His time at Hatayspor was disrupted in February 2023 by a devastating earthquake in Turkey, after which the club withdrew from the league. Lobjanidze joined Fatih Karagümrük on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season to continue playing at a high level. The Turkish years sharpened his game and prepared him for the next stage of his career in Major League Soccer.
Atlanta United Era (2023–Present)
In early August 2023, Lobjanidze completed a move to MLS club Atlanta United on a three-year deal, bringing his experience from Denmark and Turkey to one of the league’s most prominent attacking sides. He made an immediate impact, finishing the 2023 MLS Regular Season with 3 goals and 4 assists in just 9 games, a strong return for a debut MLS campaign cut short by his midseason arrival.
In 2024, Lobjanidze elevated his production further. On 30 May 2024, he was named MLS Player of the Matchday after scoring his first career MLS brace in a 3–1 win at Inter Miami CF. On 20 July 2024, he became the sixth player in club history to record at least 20 goal contributions in his first 30 matches with Atlanta United. He finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with 9 goals and 3 assists in 30 matches, and his goal on the final matchday against Orlando City helped Atlanta United clinch a place in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. He also scored in the first match of the playoff series against Inter Miami CF on 25 October 2024, as Atlanta United advanced past the defending champions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lobjanidze is best known for his speed, direct dribbling, and willingness to attack defenders in one-on-one situations on the right flank. He is comfortable cutting inside onto his stronger foot to shoot or combine with central attackers, and his movement off the ball creates space for overlapping fullbacks. His habit of producing decisive moments in big games, including braces and key playoff goals, has made him a central figure in Atlanta United’s attack.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his standout milestones are his April 2018 hat-trick against Sønderjyske for Randers, his MLS Player of the Matchday honor in May 2024 after a brace at Inter Miami CF, and his place in Atlanta United’s history as the sixth player to reach 20 goal contributions in his first 30 matches for the club. His late-season goal against Orlando City in 2024 helped Atlanta United secure a playoff spot and contributed to a series victory over Inter Miami CF.
Saba Lobjanidze Career Wins
While Lobjanidze has not won a major senior league title, his career is marked by consistent attacking production across three European leagues and Major League Soccer, along with individual recognition such as Georgia’s Player of the Month award in April 2018 and MLS Player of the Matchday in May 2024. He also holds an honours distinction with Dinamo Tbilisi.
Club Career Highlights
At Dinamo Tbilisi, he won team honours as part of the senior squad between 2014 and 2017, the club where he first established himself as a professional. At Randers, he produced his most prolific European spell, highlighted by a six-goals-in-six-games run in April 2018. His most recent win of note came in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, when Atlanta United defeated Inter Miami CF in the opening round with Lobjanidze scoring in the first match of the series.
Other Performances
In addition to his club work, Lobjanidze made his debut for the Georgia national team on 23 January 2017 in a friendly against Uzbekistan, scoring one of his team’s two goals. In 2024, he was called up by Georgia for the 2024 European Championships, reflecting his standing as a senior international player.
Saba Lobjanidze Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Saba Lobjanidze’s family background is limited. He was born and raised in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and began his football journey at Norchi Dinamoeli at the age of ten, which placed him within the broader Dinamo Tbilisi development tradition. Beyond these basic details, no further verified information about his parents or family background is publicly available.
Personal Life
Based on available verified records, no public details about Lobjanidze’s spouse or children have been confirmed. He stands 175 cm tall and is known primarily for his professional football career rather than for public personal-life disclosures.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign, Saba Lobjanidze is expected to remain a key attacking figure for Atlanta United as the club builds on its 2024 playoff run. After registering 9 goals and 3 assists in 30 regular-season matches in 2024, he enters 2025 with strong momentum and an established role as a starting right winger. His track record of decisive contributions in big games, including the playoff goal against Inter Miami CF, underlines his importance to the team’s ambitions.
Atlanta United will look to Lobjanidze for continued creativity and finishing in wide areas, particularly in matches against Eastern Conference rivals. His experience in Denmark and Turkey, combined with a full year of MLS adaptation, positions him to take on a leadership role in the squad’s attacking shape. Should he stay healthy, a career-best statistical season is a realistic target.
On the international stage, Lobjanidze is also expected to remain part of Georgia’s plans following his 2024 European Championship involvement. His continued form for Atlanta United will be closely watched by the national team staff ahead of upcoming qualifying windows and tournament preparations.