Chelsea just got Champions League dream for Enzo Maresca after bargain transfer plan pays off

Chelsea attacker Dastan Satpaevwill play in theChampions League group phase with his parent club Kairat Almaty after they beat Celtic on penalties in the qualifier on Tuesday night. Satpaev was signed by Chelseaearlier this year.

As a 17-year-old, he will not be able to move to Chelsea until his next birthday in August 2026. By that stage, Satpaev will meet the new FIFA criteria for the transfer of youth players.

His club's surprise scalp of Celtic will now offer him valuable game time against elite opposition. Satpaev did not feature in the second leg against Celtic in Kazakhstan due to suspension.

READ MORE: Chelsea confirm another transfer as FIFA limit approaches

READ MORE: Chelsea prepared to end 24-year transfer rule for £120m worth of talent

He picked up a yellow card late on in the first match last week which ruled him out of the decider. After 210 minutes across both games it remained 0-0 with Kairat going on to win via penalties after holding out through extra time.

It means that Satpaev and his teammates will be eagerly watching the Champions League draw on Thursday evening to find out who they will be playing. The new format ensures a minimum of eight league stage games against opposition of all levels.

They are split into four at home and four away. Chelsea played Astana in the Conference League last season, winning away from home in freezing conditions with a squad made up of mainly academy players due to the logistical nightmare of getting to the middle of Asia for a Thursday night kick off.

It is believed that the trip was also used to speak to Satpaev after the game was played in Almaty.A deal for the teenager was complete a few months later and will cost Chelsea around £4million.

Playing in his first full senior season, Satpaev has continued to impress, making a seamless transition into the adult game. He has scored three times on Kairat's way to the league phase.

Unlike Chelsea, who enter straight into the 32-team group, Kairat have had to come through four rounds to reach this point already. Satpaev scored in the first leg of the first round against NK Olimpija before firing in and assisting in the second leg of the second round with KuPS.

He got a goal in the home leg against Slovakia Bratislava in the third round and then played 106 minutes of the second leg before Kairat won on penalties. He played the full game at Celtic Park before a 100th-minute booking saw him heartbroken after realising it would end his participation in the round.

Kairat got the job done without Satpaev, though. They only had 32% of the ball on Wednesday night at home but limited Brendan Rodgers' men to 11 shots and five on target. Kairat, in comparison, had 11 themselves with four on target.

The result means that Satpaev could come up against Chelsea if the two teams are drawn for a fixture. LikeEstevao Willian did for Palmeiras the Club World Cup, Satpaev would be eligible to play against Chelsea.

For such a young player it will be a valuable experience and will help Chelsea to build a clearer of picture of just where he is in his development. In the Kazakhstan Premier League he has scored eight times and assisted seven from 21 matches.

Satpaev is currently on an eight match run without a goal but has assisted four during that time. He is starting most matches despite his age.