Camden Schaper: South Africa Win Race for Highly-Rated Young Football Star Over England
- Camden Schaper, who previously represented England's Under-15s, accepted a call-up to South Africa's Under-16 national team
- The Benoni-born Blackburn Rovers midfielder has recorded 14 goals and 16 assists across just seven appearances this season
- South Africa face top German clubs before heading to the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan in October, 2026
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Benoni-born attacking midfielder Camden Schaper has committed to representing South Africa at youth level, accepting a call-up to the national Under-16 squad despite having previously featured for England's Under-15s at the age of 12 in 2015.
Schaper, who plays for Blackburn Rovers in England, has been in exceptional form this season, contributing 14 goals and 16 assists across just seven appearances. Despite strong interest from English football, he has consistently maintained that his international future lies with South Africa.
**Schaper in Camp Ahead of Germany Tour**
The 15-year-old is currently in camp with the South Africa Under-16 squad as they prepare to fly to Germany for the SAFA Bundesliga Dream 2026 tournament, scheduled from 9 to 20 October. The team will face German clubs FC Augsburg and Arminia Bielefeld during the tour.
Following the Germany trip, the squad will travel to Azerbaijan for the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup, which runs from 22 to 30 October.
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South Africa have been placed in Group A alongside Anguilla, Estonia, France, Kosovo, and the Maldives. The tournament will use an 8-a-side format on smaller pitches, with the first edition being a boys-only competition. The squad is coached by Selekedi Mogale.
**From Premier League Bidding War to National Colours**
Schaper's rise has not gone unnoticed at club level either. In mid-2025, he became the subject of a fierce bidding war involving Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. Chelsea reportedly secured his signature in a deal worth £700,000 (approximately R17 million), which was reported to be the highest fee ever paid for a 13-year-old player. Transfer restrictions, however, kept him within Blackburn's academy structure into 2026.
Earlier this year, Schaper helped Blackburn Rovers claim the Iber Cup in Portugal, where he scored three goals and provided four assists in seven matches. He later made his Blackburn Under-18 debut as a substitute against Hull City, before being invited to train with the club's Under-21 side in September — a clear sign of the regard in which the club holds him.
A former SuperSport United player, Schaper's decision to align with South Africa will be seen as a significant boost for Bafana's youth development pipeline.
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Source: Briefly News
