Chelsea has cooled rumors that they are targeting Reda Belahyane of Hellas Verona next, although they are close to signing teenage attacker Dastan Satpaev. Chelsea’s academy is among the best in England, and the club’s owners are eager to get the top international young players. In pursuit of Satpaev, blues scouts have traveled to a surprising place, as they typically go to Europe or South America to find the next big thing.
Originally from Almaty, the center-forward plays for the Kazakhstan U17 team internationally. Satpaev, who has been scoring a lot of goals for Kairat Almaty’s younger levels, made his senior debut for the squad in May of last year. After being impressed by his performances, Chelsea has reportedly put themselves at the front of the line to sign the 16-year-old emerging sensation, according to Fabrizio Romano. To sign Satpaev from Kairat, Enzo Maresca’s team has “agreed a deal” worth €4 million (£3.4 million or $4.2 million), including add-ons. A Kazakh team is said to have made a record sale.
Chelsea agree deal for Kazakhstan wonderkid
Romano said, “Chelsea has reached an agreement to sign Dastan Satpaev, a Kazakh talent who was born in 2008.” A €4 million transfer charge is included in the package add-ons from Kairat Almaty. Dastan will sign a five-year contract with a one-year option with Chelsea at his 18th birthday, making it a record transfer for the Kazakhstan League. A number of European teams, including RB Salzburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, and Real Sociedad, expressed interest in the 16-year-old midfield player prior to Chelsea completing the transaction.
During four games in the UEFA Youth League (U-19), Satpayev scored one goal and provided one assist. In the First League, he scored one goal in five games for Kairat-Zhasstar and played for Kazakhstan’s U-17 national team. It was previously reported that Manchester City had signed 20-year-old Uzbek defender Abduqodir Khusanov from RC Lens in an unexpected winter transfer for an estimated €50 million.
