By Alex Roberts
Dastan Satpaev, a 16-year-old striker from Kazakhstan is each Soccer Supervisor participant’s dream, he clearly has 200 PA (if you understand you understand). For the time being, Chelsea’s determination to signal him for a reported charge of €4 million, together with add-ons, is trying like a grasp stroke.
In comparison with Sergio Agüero, who got here near becoming a member of the West London membership as a teen earlier than lastly touchdown at Manchester Metropolis and turning into a Premier League nice, has been with present membership Kairat Almaty because the age of eight.
It’s not an unfair comparability, bodily a minimum of, he nonetheless has some strategy to go if he desires to have the kind of profession the little Argentinian did. Like Agüero, he has a low centre of gravity and unimaginable steadiness, together with that trademark burst of tempo that catches defenders utterly off-guard.
Because of this, his hyperlink up play is one among his finest property. Not afraid to make a nuisance of himself, he brings teammates into the fold with a formidable contact, taking part in a one-two, and utilizing his velocity to get in the correct place and get a shot off on purpose.
In fact, given his age, there may be nonetheless room for enchancment. He’s not the perfect within the air however then once more, he’s solely 5’5”, he’s due a progress spurt over the subsequent few years, if he retains consuming his Beshbarmak, Satpaev shall be an enormous robust boy very quickly.
After impressing within the academy, scoring a complete of 27 targets and registering 10 assists in 28 matches, through the 2023 and 2024 seasons within the QJ League, Kazakhstan’s premier youth competitors, he was promoted to the senior staff.
He went on to make his debut on 26 Could 2024 of their 9–0 Kazakhstan League Cup win towards Akzhayik, approaching to interchange Élder Santana within the eightieth minute. He wasn’t among the many scorers, however you might inform he had one thing particular.
Regardless of the minimal variety of appearances, the European elite had been beginning to take discover and in March, it was introduced that he can be becoming a member of Chelsea for a Kazakhstan league file charge.
Since then, he’s arguably been the primary title on the staff sheet, scoring his first senior purpose within the first sport of the 2025 season, an equaliser towards FC Astana, the most important aspect in Kazakhstan.
The younger man hasn’t appeared again since. He’s performed a key function in taking Kairat Almaty to the highest of the Kazakhstan Premier League, scoring eight targets and offering one help in his 19 video games, as they give the impression of being nicely on their strategy to a second consecutive title.
Domestically, Satpaev is already a comparatively huge fish in a small pond. On the continent, he’s simply one other child, trying up on the grown up’s desk, hoping to get a chew of the cake whereas they’re distracted by their telephones.
Kairat Almaty entered the Champions League on the first qualifying spherical, the place they’d face Slovenian champions Olimpija Ljubljana, with the primary sport held within the historic and scenic metropolis of Ljubljana.
After 59 minutes, a file was damaged. Operating alongside teammate Jorginho, not that one, he was in the correct place on the proper time to faucet the ball house after his fellow ahead broke free to go one-on-one with the ‘keeper.
And identical to that, 16 years, 10 months, and 26 days, Satpaev turn into the youngest purpose scorer within the competitors’s historical past – though technically Ansu Fati remains to be the file holder for the Champions League correct.
Olimpija equalised seven minutes later to finish the sport 1-1. Kairat Almaty would go on to win their second leg again in Khazakhstan 2-0, though Satpaev didn’t get on the scoresheet this time round.
Drawn towards Finnish champions KuPS for his or her subsequent qualifier, it was beginning to appear like Satpaev’s first foray into Europe’s elite membership competitors would come to an finish after their misplaced the primary leg 2-0.
As everybody who follows soccer is aware of, 2-0 is a harmful scoreline, nevertheless, and Satpaev was the primary man/boy within the sport again on the Ortalyq Stadion, bagging a purpose and offering an help.
9 minutes in, he took the iniative to latch on to a move that didn’t seem like meant for him, taking a contact, catching his breath, and taking pictures his shot by means of a sea of legs. The ‘keeper bought a hand to it, but it surely wasn’t sufficient, and Kairat Almaty had been again in it.
Jorginho bought the tie stage on the 29th minute earlier than Satpaev was concerned as soon as once more, this time organising Valeri Gromyko simply earlier than the break to make it 3-0 and win the tie outright. We’d wish to say it was the perfect help we’d ever seen however, in all honesty, Gromyko did many of the work.
Subsequent up had been Slovan Bratislava, a aspect that made it to the new-look league section final season, the place they’d go on to face the likes of Man Metropolis, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid. They didn’t choose up a single level however typically it’s in regards to the pals you make alongside the best way.
Kairat Almaty dominated the sport however had been unable to interrupt their opponents down. Rahim Ibrahim’s crimson card left Slovan Bratislava extra weak, however it might take one other half-hour for a purpose to be scored.
Once more, it was our boy. Kairat Almaty had been awarded a penalty in added time and Satpaev confirmed bravery past his years to utterly smash it into the again of the online and provides his aspect the benefit going into the second leg.
That shall be performed on Tuesday, with a closing qualifier towards the mighty Celtic within the steadiness. Then, ought to Satpaev and co snatch an unlikely victory towards Brendan Rodgers’ lads, they will name themselves a correct Champions League aspect.
Trying to the long run, Chelsea shall be delighted with the progress he’s already made, and the maturity he’s proven in a few of his membership’s largest moments. Maybe, the subsequent huge factor in soccer, is a child from Khazakstan.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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