Kazakh football club Kairat have officially bid farewell to 17-year-old forward Dastan Satpayev, who has confirmed his departure from the club ahead of his summer move to English Premier League side Chelsea Football Club.
The transfer, initially confirmed in February 2025, will see Satpayev move to London after he turns 18 on August 12. The reported fee sits at approximately €4 million, including potential add-ons, making it the largest outgoing transfer in Kazakhstan Premier League history.
On June 17, Satpayev made his final appearance for Kairat in a match against Kyzylzhar in Almaty as part of the Kazakhstan Premier League. Ahead of the match, the club held a ceremonial send-off for the teenager, during which Kairat supervisory board chairman Kairat Boranbayev presented Satpayev with a framed commemorative jersey bearing the number 58 — the number of matches he played for the club. A banner displaying his name was also unveiled at the stadium.
Born in Almaty, Satpayev joined the Kairat Academy at the age of eight, progressing through all stages of training before making his senior debut at 15. He first came to prominence in the youth QJ League, recording 27 goals and 10 assists in 28 matches during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
He has been drawing comparisons to Sergio Agüero for his dynamic, aggressive style of play, while Kazakh newspapers have also likened him to French star Kylian Mbappé.
No Kazakh player has ever played in the Premier League before, let alone for Chelsea, making the transfer a landmark moment for football in the Central Asian nation. Once the transfer is finalised in August, Satpayev is expected to integrate into Chelsea’s pre-season preparations, with considerations for a loan spell to further develop his skills.
