PSG can now sign Kvaratskhelia's replacement

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a 25-year-old Georgian winger, will be out of action after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the match against Barcelona on October 20. The PSG transfer market may strengthen before January through the joker rule of the Ligue 1, although this avenue only allows the addition of a player registered in French football.

PSG Can Sign a Replacement, but with Restrictions

Kvaratskhelia's injury forces Luis Enrique to reorganize his attack. The Georgian international will have to undergo surgery and PSG confirmed that he will be operated on in the coming days, without setting a specific date for his return.

The French regulations offer an alternative to not waiting for the winter market. From the close of the summer window until the opening of January's, each club can incorporate one player as a joker, provided he meets the registration requirements set by the French federation.

The main condition restricts the scope of action: the player must be registered in France and come from a team in the Ligue 1 or Ligue 2. Therefore, PSG cannot use this route to directly sign a winger from the Premier League, LaLiga, or any other foreign competition.

The mechanism is not an exception created to replace injured players either. The medical joker regulation covers specific scenarios, such as a serious injury to a goalkeeper or an ailment suffered by a player with the French national team, circumstances that do not apply to Kvaratskhelia.

🚨🚨 PSG COULD REVISE THEIR PLANS FOR THE WINTER TRANSFER WINDOW AFTER KVARATSKHELIA'S SEVERE INJURY 🇬🇪 !!! ❤️💙 Paris was ALREADY looking for a young player with high potential to strengthen its attacking sector. With a positive balance of €183M from the last summer transfer window, the club has the FINANCIAL MEANS to invest if necessary! 💰 🗞️ @lequipe

— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) October 21, 2026

PSG's Options to Find a Replacement

The sports management must decide whether to use that extraordinary spot to bolster the attack or wait until January 1, 2027, when the winter market opens. The first option would allow for immediate action but limit the search to players available within French football.

The club can also consider signing a free agent, an option that does not require negotiating a transfer with another entity. In that scenario, the availability of suitable profiles and their physical condition would be important factors in deciding whether to act before January.

Kvaratskhelia's Injury Alters Luis Enrique's Plans

The absence of the Georgian poses a setback for the French team after their 4-2 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League. Additionally, PSG faces the upcoming weeks with physical issues for Ousmane Dembélé and Marquinhos, who also suffered muscular injuries in that match.

Kvaratskhelia had been one of the protagonists of the previous European campaign, with 10 goals and six assists in the Champions League, figures that help gauge the challenge of covering his offensive contribution. The Georgian was also named the MVP of the last Champions League.

The immediate priority will be to find solutions with the available players and determine whether it is advisable to fill the joker spot. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will not have an automatic replacement due to his injury: PSG will have to choose between a player from the Ligue 1 or Ligue 2, a free agent, or wait for the January market, with no confirmed signing as of now.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El PSG puede fichar ya al sustituto de Kvaratskhelia