Background
Irakli Yegoian is 22 years old and was born in Georgia. Before he joined Excelsior, he lived eleven years with his family in various asylum centres (azc's). During that time he grew up in an environment he described as a "big playground": no cars, plenty of space to play football and basketball, and a large group of friends - 44 in total.
His parents felt the constant uncertainty about obtaining a residence permit, but Yegoian himself experienced little stress. He remembered the evening meals where he sensed his parents’ tension, yet he was not directly confronted with the threat of expulsion.
Yegoian played in the youth teams of Ajax and FC Twente, but found no breakthrough there. Later he joined Vitesse and eventually Excelsior, where he now holds a contract.
First Eredivisie Match
On 29 August 2026 Yegoian made his first competitive appearance for Excelsior against SC Cambuur. The match ended 0-4 in favour of Cambuur, but Yegoian made an impact: he scored a goal and provided an assist.
These performances mark a significant milestone in his career after years of uncertainty and a long journey from asylum centres to the top level of Dutch football.
