Saba Sazonov

In this name that follows East Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Andreyevich and the family name is Sazonov.

Saba Andreyevich Sazonov (Russian: Саба Андреевич Сазонов; Georgian: საბა საზონოვი; born 1 February 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Italian Serie A club Torino. Born in Russia, he plays for the Georgia national team internationally.

Saba Sazonov
საბა საზონოვი

Sazonov with Dynamo Moscow in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Saba Andreyevich Sazonov
Date of birth	(2002-02-01) 1 February 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Saint Petersburg, Russia
Height	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Torino
Youth career
2008–2020	Zenit Saint Petersburg
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2021	Zenit-2 Saint Petersburg	24	(3)
2021	Zenit Saint Petersburg	1	(0)
2021–2023	Dynamo Moscow	34	(1)
2021–2022	→ Dynamo-2 Moscow	9	(2)
2023–	Torino	13	(0)
2024–2025	→ Empoli (loan)	0	(0)
International career‡
2022–2025	Georgia U21	12	(2)
2022–	Georgia	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 June 2025

Early life

His mother Nino Nishnianidze is a former professional Georgian volleyball player from Samtredia. She moved to Saint Petersburg where she met her Russian husband. During his childhood, Sazonov moved to Georgia and then back to Russia, to feel more comfortable with both countries' language and culture.^[2]

Club career

Sazonov made his debut in the Russian Premier League for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg on 16 May 2021 in a game against FC Tambov. He was substituted on for Magomed Ozdoyev in the 76th minute.^[3]

In June 2021, he joined Dynamo Moscow on trial.^[4] On 9 July 2021, after impressing on trial, he signed a three-year contract with Dynamo.^[5]

On 31 August 2023, he signed for Serie A club Torino, becoming the third Georgian in the Serie A ahead the 2023–24 season.^[6]

Having taken part in 13 league matches for Torino, Sazonov signed a year-long loan contract with Empoli on 30 August 2024.^[7] Before he played any games for Empoli, he suffered an ACL tear in training, which eventually kept him out of play for the rest on the 2024–25 season.^[8]

International career

In September 2022, Sazonov was called up to the Georgia national under-21 football team.^[9] He was also called up to the Russian team for the same dates,^[10] but he chose to represent Georgia. Sazonov took part in all four games of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, scoring a header in a 2–0 win over Portugal.^[11]

Sazonov debuted with the senior Georgia national team in a friendly 3–0 loss to Morocco on 17 November 2022.^[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of matches played on 17 August 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Zenit-2 St. Petersburg	2019–20	Russian Second League	6	0	–		–		–		6	0
	2020–21	Russian Second League	18	3	–		–		–		18	3
	Total		24	3	0	0	0	0	–		24	3
Zenit St. Petersburg	2020–21	Russian Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	–		1	0
Dynamo-2 Moscow	2021–22	Russian Second League	9	2	–		–		–		9	2
Dynamo Moscow	2021–22	Russian Premier League	6	0	0	0	–		–		6	0
	2022–23	Russian Premier League	24	1	6	0	–		–		30	1
	2023–24	Russian Premier League	4	0	1	0	–		–		5	0
	Total		34	1	7	0	0	0	–		41	1
Torino	2023–24	Serie A	12	0	0	0	–		–		12	0
	2024–25	Serie A	1	0	–		–		–		1	0
	Total		13	0	0	0	0	0	–		13	0
Empoli (loan)	2024–25	Serie A	0	0	–		–		–		0	0
Career total			81	6	7	0	0	0	0	0	88	6

Honours

Zenit Saint Petersburg

• Russian Premier League: 2020–21