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Dastan Satpayev's story is straight out of Hollywood, or Football Manager, depending on your cultural reference points.
Arguably the biggest thing in Kazakhstani football since bursting on the scene with Kairat Almaity (no, it wasn't a particularly big argument), Satpayev has gotten his chance in the Champions League this season from near the Chinese border – and will join Chelsea this summer when he turns 18.
So… who exactly is Dastan Satpayev?
Name: Dastan Satpayev
Position/s: Centre-forward
Age: 17 (Born: August 12, 2008)
Nationality: Kazakhstani
Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Preferred Foot: Right
Current Club: Kairat (joining Chelsea in 2026)
Already heralded as perhaps the greatest talent that Kazakhstan has ever seen, Dastan Satpayev first turned heads as a youngster in 2023 and 2024, netting 27 and assisting 10 times in 28 matches in Kazakhstan's biggest youth league. Naturally, Chelsea snapped him up for around €4 million, as part of their pledge to sign just about any teenager with world-class potential before anyone else.
This one might just be the real deal, though. Satpayev has parts of his game that can't be taught, and as the youngest player to ever debut for the Kazakh senior team, he's already been capped seven times for a burgeoning footballing nation. He's tipped for huge things.
Satpayev's strengths
Acceleration and separation: The difference between good strikers and elite strikers is often down to how quickly they can get their shots off, and Chelsea were clearly convinced by Satpayev due to how easily he shrugs off defenders. That burst of pace is frightening, with the teenager able to get five yards away from his markers in mere seconds, ready to shoot.
Ambipedality: He's primarily right-footed but when the ball falls to him in a split second, Satpayev can generate power and precision on either foot. An underrated plus for a box-dweller.
Off-ball work: Not only does Satpayev have an excellent instinct for knowing when to dart to the front post for a cut-back, he also has the work ethic to keep on doing it, again and again. This willingness to flog himself off the ball is particularly handy in the press, too, with the teenager offering intensity in closing down markers.
Ability against a low block: What Satpayev lacks in height, he makes up for in his agility and balance. He has a low centre of gravity, thrives in tight spaces and when up against a deeper block, he can pick a lock well to find a yard where there isn't one. Sergio Aguero comparisons are apt.
Link-up play: Satpayev is extremely comfortable running in behind, but just as keen to come short and link play. He's not the strongest nor the tallest, but has the intelligence to exchange quick, short passes and drag markers out for team-mates to exploit space.
Satpayev's areas of development
Hold-up play: A lack of any real height really does limit Satpayev's capability as a centre-forward, as he relies on winning second balls and using his pressing to win long balls. A lack of strength means a difficulty in holding up the ball, too, though: he is often outmuscled in duels and will have to either work on his core strength or find solutions when he gets bullied.
Discipline: Three yellow cards in five Champions League fixtures points to an over-enthusiasm that will have to be tamed – but that discipline extends to tracking back and positioning himself in a low- or mid-block. It will come with time.
Consistency: Satpayev tends to score in short bursts. That's not unusual, especially for his age, but it does back up the eye test: his game can fluctuate between keeping it simpler and taking high volumes of shots. He needs to find a happy medium.
Satpayev's ceiling
FORWARDS Franculino Dju, Ricardo Pepi, Rayan
Joining Chelsea can be a roll of the dice for a young player: for every Cole Palmer, there's a David Datro Fofana, still waiting for an opportunity to impress. Satpayev is still incredibly young and joining the loan army seems highly probable for his immediate development – but his high-intensity style means that there's a good chance he can thrive in Europe.
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