Irakli Yegoian scored the first goal of the Eredivisie season 2026/27, and his impressive performance earned him a rating of 8.5, the highest of the week. He played as a right winger in the match, a new position for him, and assisted his teammate Noah Naujoks in scoring the second goal, showcasing his skills in his new role.
Yegoian's journey to becoming a professional footballer is inspiring. He moved to the Netherlands with his family at 17, fleeing war in Georgia. He grew up in various neighbourhoods and with host families, and his dream of becoming a professional footballer seemed far-fetched. However, he persevered and worked hard, eventually making his debut in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie for Vitesse in 2024. Yegoian previously played for Ajax and FC Twente in their youth teams.
Yegoian's success in the Eredivisie has not gone unnoticed. He was named the first Player of the Week of the season in October 2025, but referred to himself as a "late bloomer" at the time. He made his professional debut in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie for Vitesse in 2024, and scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists in the Eredivisie for Excelsior in the previous season. Yegoian also made his debut for the Georgian national team in a friendly match against Romania in June 2026.