The Lion City Sailors are pleased to announce the signing of promising young full-back Jorge Karseladze from Portuguese Primeira Liga side Rio Ave on a two-year contract.
Comfortable operating as both a traditional full-back and an advanced wing-back, the 21-year-old – also known as Karse – brings pace, dynamism and tactical intelligence to the Sailors' defensive ranks. His attacking qualities will also add another dimension in the wide areas as the club prepares for a demanding campaign across multiple competitions.
A product of Rio Ave's esteemed academy, Karse progressed through the club's youth ranks before making three appearances in the Portuguese top flight. He continued his development last season during a loan spell with Liga 3 outfit Académica de Coimbra, where he featured eight times.
It is a familiar path to that taken by current Sailors left-back Diogo Costa, who also spent time with Académica before moving to Singapore in 2025.
Born in Portugal and eligible to represent both Portugal and Georgia, Karse has represented the latter up to the Under-21 level. Most recently, he made four appearances in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers between September and November 2025.
(Photo: Rio Ave)
“I'm very excited to join the Lion City Sailors and begin this new chapter in my career,†said Karse. “I've heard a lot about the club's professionalism and its ambition to transform football in this country. That was a big reason why I decided to come here.
“I'm an attack-minded player, but my priority is, of course, to fulfil my defensive responsibilities as well. I want to establish myself as an important player for the team and help the club achieve its ambitions in international competitions.â€
Sailors Director of Football Luka Lalić welcomed Karse's arrival, and highlighted how well his profile fits the team's evolving style of play.
“Karse represents the modern full-back – quick, energetic on the ball and tactically adaptable to the demands of both defending and attacking,†said Lalić.
“We have a challenging season ahead across several competitions, so it is important to have strong foreign and local options in every position to cope with the physical demands. Karse has already gained experience in a highly competitive environment in Portugal, and we believe he has the potential to become a very good player for us.â€
