Despite not officially becoming a Chelsea player until next month, 17-year-old striker Dastan Satpayev is already the talk of the club's pre-season tour. Amid the international talent and the arrival of new manager Xabi Alonso, Satpayev has garnered the most attention since the Blues landed in Australia last week.
At Chelsea's open training session at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, over 5,000 supporters attended, with many waving the Kazakhstan flag or wearing kits of Satpayev's former club, FC Kairat, the reigning Kazakh Premier League champions.
Special dispensation for tour
Chelsea were aware of the fanfare Satpayev might cause and the potential to capitalise, so they made efforts to ensure he could participate in the pre-season tour before officially being unveiled upon turning 18 on August 12. A deal for Satpayev worth around £3.3 million plus add-ons has been in place since February 2025.
Because he is not officially a Chelsea player, the club sought special dispensation from FC Kairat to name him in the 28-man travelling squad for the Australia and Asia tour. Despite his five-year contract (with an option for a further 12 months) not beginning until August, he is eligible to play in all pre-season friendlies.
Tour schedule and opportunity
Chelsea's tour begins with a match against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, followed by a London derby against Tottenham in the Sydney Super Cup on Saturday. They then face Juventus in Hong Kong, AC Milan in Indonesia, and conclude against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta'zim at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
With several key players on extended leave after the World Cup, Satpayev hopes to get minutes and show his new employers his abilities.
