How a century-old Georgian football club navigated government ownership, stadium loss, and historic triumph
In short: FC Dinamo Batumi, a cornerstone of Georgian football, has survived a turbulent century of name changes, stadium demolitions, and financial crises. From its 1923 origins to becoming a modern league champion, the club's history reflects the shifting landscape of Adjara, proving that resilience is as vital as athletic talent.
Founded in 1923 through the merger of two local clubs, Mezgvauri and Tsiteli Raindi, Dinamo Batumi has long served as a focal point for football in the Adjara region. While the club spent much of the Soviet era in lower divisions, it produced notable talent, including Revaz Chelebadze and Nodar Khizanishvili. By the 1990s, the club established itself as a competitive force in the newly independent Georgian league, securing its first major trophy—the Georgian Cup—in 1998 by defeating Dinamo Tbilisi.
The early 2000s brought severe instability. A construction boom in Batumi led to the loss of the club's seaside stadium in 2006, followed by the demolition of the Adeli stadium. These setbacks coincided with a period of poor performance, resulting in the club's first relegation in 2008. However, the club underwent a dramatic revival starting in 2013. By 2021, under the guidance of long-term coaching staff and a stable squad, Dinamo Batumi finally lifted the Champion's Shield for the first time in its history, marking a high point in its centenary era.
The club's management has also seen significant volatility. In 2020, the Adjarian government transferred ownership to Lamini Ltd for a 49-year term. This era saw the team move into the new Batumi Stadium in October 2020 and attract high-profile talents like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Yet, by 2025, the club faced a financial crisis and a FIFA-imposed transfer ban. In December 2025, the government terminated the agreement with Lamini Ltd, and JSC DB 1923 assumed control, marking the latest chapter in the club's complex institutional history.
Dinamo Batumi's European campaigns have provided some of its most memorable moments, including a 1995 match against Celtic attended by over 15,000 spectators and a 1998 victory over Partizan Belgrade. Despite recent challenges, the club remains a top-tier competitor, consistently ranking among the most successful teams in Georgian football history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: FC Dinamo Batumi
- Also: Wikidata — FC Dinamo Batumi · CC0
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