Akaki Gogia

VfL Wolfsburg

A midfielder, Gogia began his career in Germany as a junior with FSV 67 Halle and Hannover 96, before transferring to VfL Wolfsburg in 2004. He came through the youth ranks and made his reserve team debut in February 2010, going on to make 9 appearances. He scored prolifically for Wolfsburg's U17 and U19 teams, netting 44 goals in 86 games and helping the side to the U19 Bundesliga championship in the 2010–11 season, scoring in the final versus 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

Along with three other reserve players, Gogia was promoted to the first team squad in December 2010 by general manager Dieter Hoeness and coach Steve McClaren, who dropped Karim Ziani and Caiuby to the reserves. After being included in the party for a winter training camp in Marbella, Gogia was called into the senior squad for the first time for a Bundesliga match versus Bayern Munich on 15 January 2011. He remained an unused substitute for the 1–1 draw and was called up twice more during the 2010–11 season. He failed to win any further first team call ups and departed the club in July 2013.

FC Augsburg (loan)

On 11 May 2012, it was announced that Gogia had joined Bundesliga side FC Augsburg on loan for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons. He made the first professional appearance of his career when he came on as a substitute for Marcel Ndjeng in a 2–1 DFB-Pokal first round win over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen on 30 July 2011. He made 14 appearances during his spell, which was cut short by torn ligaments in his left knee. Gogia returned to Wolfsburg at the end of the 2011–12 season.

FC St. Pauli (loan)

In July 2012, Gogia signed on loan with 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli on a season-long loan. He scored the first senior goal of his career in a 3–2 win over SSV Jahn Regensburg on 8 March 2013. He made 24 appearances and scored once before returning to Wolfsburg at the end of the 2012–13 season.

Hallescher FC

After failed trials with SC Paderborn 07 and Heracles Almelo, Gogia dropped down the 3. Liga to sign for hometown club Hallescher FC in July 2013 on a two-year deal. He made 80 appearances and scored 26 goals during his two seasons with the club. He finished their 2014–15 Saxony-Anhalt Cup campaign as joint-top scorer and netted in a 6–0 rout of neighbours VfL Halle 1896 in the final.

Brentford

On 16 May 2015, it was announced that Gogia had signed a "long term" contract with English Championship club Brentford on a free transfer. He made his debut with a start on the opening day of the 2015–16 season, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–2 draw with Ipswich Town. He missed almost all of September with a thigh injury and after a change of manager and system in early October, Gogia dropped out of the starting lineup and out of the squad altogether by December, save for two substitute appearances in January 2016. A further injury in March 2016 kept him on the sidelines, but he returned to make four substitute appearances in April and finished the season with 14 appearances. After finding himself far down the midfield pecking order at the end of the 2016–17 pre-season, Gogia left Griffin Park on a season-long loan on 8 August 2016 and departed the club in June 2017.

Dynamo Dresden (loan)

On 8 August 2016, Gogia joined 2. Bundesliga club Dynamo Dresden on loan for the duration of the 2016–17 season, with an option to buy. 12 days later, he made his debut as a late substitute for Stefan Kutschke in a 2–2 DFB-Pokal first round draw with neighbours RB Leipzig and scored in the deciding shootout, which Dynamo won. He broke into the starting lineup and scored 7 goals in 17 appearances before suffering an ankle ligament injury during a league match versus 1. FC Nürnberg on 29 January 2017. Gogia returned to action on 10 April, when he came on as a substitute for Aias Aosman after 73 minutes of a 1–0 defeat to Eintracht Braunschweig. He finished his spell with 10 goals in 24 appearances and was reported by Kicker to have statistically been the best 2. Bundesliga player during the 2016–17 season. On 30 June 2017, Gogia joined the club on a permanent contract for an undisclosed fee (rumoured to be €750,000), but remained for just 24 hours before departing.

Union Berlin

On 1 July 2017, Gogia joined 2. Bundesliga club Union Berlin on a four-year deal.

International career

Gogia won seven caps for Germany at U18 and U19 level, scoring once in a 2–1 friendly defeat to Belgium on 25 March 2011. In May 2015, it was reported that Georgia had contacted Gogia about a call up.

Personal life

Gogia was born in Rustavi, Georgia and moved to Halle, Germany with his parents at the age of 9 in 2001. His parents later moved to Hanover and then Augsburg, which influenced his moves to Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.

Honours

Hallescher FC

Career statistics