In August 2023, Ajax paid €16 million to sign FC Metz forward Georges Mikautadze. In doing so, Mikautadze became the most expensive Georgian player of all time, more expensive than the likes of Kakhaber Kaladze, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Giorgi Kinkladze. He became the third-most expensive Metz sale of all time, too, earning the club more than the Sadio Mané, Frank Ribéry, and Miralem Pjanic sales combined.
It was no small investment for Ajax. The Dutch giants are no strangers to paying big transfer fees — Mikautadze wasn’t even their most expensive signing of the summer — but this was different. Ajax had finished third the previous season, breaking a streak of four consecutive first-place finishes in the Eredivisie. They hadn’t finished as low as third since the 2008/09 season, either. Spending €16 million on a striker who had been in the French second tier the year before was a gamble that needed to pay off. It didn’t.
The signing made no sense from the beginning. The club’s manager, Maurice Steijn, preferred to play a 4-3-3 formation. This of course means that only one striker would start, and Steijn already had two preferred strikers: Chuba Akpom and Brian Brobbey. Eventually Steijn was fired, but the story was the same under new manager John van ‘t Schip — they just didn’t know where to put him on the pitch.
His final match was particularly fitting. For just the second time all season, he played ninety minutes — out of position, since Akpom was starting — but it was a goalless 90 minutes for him in a 3-2 cup loss to fourth-tier side USV Hercules. In total, the Georgian striker had made just nine appearances before Ajax cut their losses in January, sending him back to his former club Metz on loan with an option to buy.
Back in France, Mikautadze’s struggles in front of goal continued. He hadn’t scored since August, prior to his Ajax move, despite having scored 23 goals in Ligue 2 the year before. However, he failed to score in his first five games back with the club, although he did at least grab an assist in a 2-1 loss to Lorient. Like Mikautadze, Metz was also floundering, having failed to win a match in any competition since November.
On February 23, Mikautadze’s goal drought ended in sensational style. He poked the ball past Lyon’s Jake O’Brien, rounded the Irish defender, and calmly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and into the back of the net. Metz ultimately lost 2-1, but make no mistake: Mikautadze was back.
Mikautadze scored against Lyon ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/0JzCj0g2do
— Georgian Football (@Geofootballnew2) February 23, 2024
The next match, Metz finally ended their winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Nantes. Mikautadze was on the score sheet, sending Alban Lafont the wrong way with a cool penalty. Metz won their next match, too, and the Georgian striker was once again the hero, confidently powering another penalty right down the middle in a 1-0 victory.
Mikautadze failed to find the back of the net in his next two matches against stronger opposition — losses to Stade Reims and AS Monaco, respectively. However, he returned in a big way against second-place Stade Brest, bagging two goals in a narrow 4-3 loss. And then came his performance against RC Lens.
While Lens has struggled this season, they still are punching above their weight compared to its wealthy rivals. They finished second in Ligue 1 last year, earning them a spot in the Champions League — where they finished third thanks to victories over Arsenal and Sevilla. Despite their mixed recent form, the expectation was that Lens would put Metz back in their place.
It looked that way after just thirteen minutes, as Lens took an early 1-0 lead from the penalty spot. Then it turned into the Mikautadze show.
In the 33rd minute, the Georgian striker controlled a headed pass, then, ignoring teammate Arthur Atta’s pleas for a pass, rolled the ball to the side before blasting it into the top corner with his supposedly weaker left foot. Just over ten minutes later, his pressing helped teammate Kévin N’Doram win the ball and, after receiving the pass, the Georgian chipped France international Brice Samba to score his second of the afternoon. Metz won, 2-1.
With only five games left in the season, Metz is still in a tricky place. They are currently 17th in Ligue 1, which means they would be relegated to Ligue 2 as things stand. However, they are level on points with Lorient in 16th, who would play a relegation playoff, and just two points off of Nantes and guaranteed safety. Still, with Mikautadze’s current form — seven goals in his last seven matches for Metz — they should like their chances to escape relegation.
After that, who knows what will happen next? Metz has an option to make the loan permanent, rumored to be around €10 million. If they stay up, they will surely make his loan permanent. Whether they choose to sell him after that, knowing that he will almost definitely be worth more than the €16 million Ajax paid for him last summer, remains to be determined. He will also be headed to the Euros with Georgia, who will participate for the first time ever, which could raise his value even further.
Either way, Mikautadze looks like a force to be reckoned with right now. Ajax may come to regret losing the Georgian star.
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Image via fcmetz.com. All statistics come from transfermarkt.us unless otherwise specified.
