Getafe sign Georgian defender Saba Sazonov on free transfer for 2026-27
Synopsis
Getafe have quietly assembled two defensive signings in one window — a Georgian international returning from a two-year injury absence on a free, and a Spanish full-back on loan from Aston Villa. With Bordalas now contracted until 2028, Getafe are rebuilding after narrowly missing Europe, even as they ship out several experienced names.
Key Takeaways
Saba Sazonov , 24 , joins Getafe on a free transfer, signing until June 2027 with an option for a further year.
Sazonov had just two minutes of first-team football in two years due to a knee ligament injury.
Andres Garcia , 23 , arrives on loan from Aston Villa to replace Juan Iglesias , who joined Sevilla on a free transfer.
Coach Jose Bordalas , 64 , has signed a new two-year deal keeping him at Getafe until June 2028 .
Getafe have lost midfielders Luis Milla and Mauro Arambarri and defenders Domingos Duarte and Iglesias this summer.
Georgia international centre-back Saba Sazonov has joined Getafe on a free transfer ahead of the 2026-27 La Liga season, the Madrid-based club confirmed on Tuesday, 4 August. The 24-year-old has signed a contract through June 2027, with an option to extend by a further year.
Sazonov's Background and Injury Setback
Sazonov began his professional career at Zenit St. Petersburg before moving to Dynamo Moscow and later Italian side Torino, where he made 13 first-team appearances. A serious knee ligament injury then derailed his progress, restricting him to just two minutes of first-team football over the past two years.
Notably, Spanish sports daily Marca reported that Sazonov had come close to joining Getafe a season earlier, only for a last-minute paperwork error to collapse the deal. This signing, therefore, completes a move that had been in the works for over a year.
Andres Garcia Joins on Loan from Aston Villa
Getafe have also bolstered their right flank by signing Andres Garcia on loan from Aston Villa. The 23-year-old Spanish full-back made just 18 first-team appearances for the Premier League club, which he had joined from Levante in January 2025.
Garcia arrives to cover the departure of Juan Iglesias, who left on a free transfer at the end of June to join Sevilla. In an announcement on their official website, Getafe described Garcia as 'a full-back who covers a lot of ground and has his main strengths, his ability to push into attack, his defensive security and his strength in the air.' In a curious footnote, Garcia made his senior debut for Levante in a Copa del Rey match against Getafe in January 2023.
Bordalas Commits to Getafe Until 2028
The summer recruitment drive follows head coach Jose Bordalas signing a new two-year contract that keeps him at the club through June 2028. The 64-year-old had faced uncertainty over his future amid reported difficulties in reaching an agreement with club president Angel Torres, before both parties resolved their differences.
Getafe described Bordalas as 'one of the most important figures in the recent history of the club' in the statement confirming his renewal.
A Squad in Transition
Getafe narrowly missed out on European qualification last season despite a strong second-half run, and the club has since lost several key figures. Midfielders Luis Milla and Mauro Arambarri, along with defenders Domingos Duarte and Iglesias, have all departed. The arrivals of Sazonov and Garcia represent Getafe's effort to rebuild defensively with the new La Liga campaign roughly a month away.
Point of View
Not a straightforward reinforcement. Getafe are betting on Sazonov's pre-injury pedigree — and the price is right at zero — but it does little to address the defensive depth lost with Duarte and Iglesias gone. The Garcia loan from Aston Villa is similarly modest cover rather than a genuine upgrade. Bordalas's renewal is the most consequential piece of this summer: stability in the dugout is what kept Getafe competitive last season, and locking him in through 2028 matters more than any individual signing.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Saba Sazonov and why has he joined Getafe?
Saba Sazonov is a 24-year-old Georgian international centre-back who has joined Getafe on a free transfer for the 2026-27 La Liga season. He previously played for Zenit St. Petersburg, Dynamo Moscow, and Torino, but a knee ligament injury limited him to just two minutes of first-team football over the past two years.
What are the terms of Sazonov's contract at Getafe?
Sazonov has signed a contract with Getafe through June 2027, with an option for an additional year. He arrived on a free transfer, meaning Getafe paid no transfer fee.
Who is Andres Garcia and why has Getafe signed him?
Andres Garcia is a 23-year-old Spanish right-back who has joined Getafe on loan from Aston Villa. He was brought in to cover the departure of Juan Iglesias, who left on a free transfer to join Sevilla at the end of June 2026.
What is Jose Bordalas's new contract at Getafe?
Jose Bordalas has signed a two-year contract extension that keeps him as Getafe head coach until the end of June 2028. The 64-year-old's renewal came after reported difficulties in reaching an agreement with club president Angel Torres.
How did Getafe perform last season?
Getafe narrowly missed out on European qualification last season despite a strong second half of the campaign. However, the club has since lost several key players, including midfielders Luis Milla and Mauro Arambarri and defenders Domingos Duarte and Juan Iglesias.
