Kendry Paez
Nation: Ecuador
Age: 17
Place: Attacking midfielder
Caps: 9 (1 objective)
Membership: Independiente del Valle (Chelsea from 2025)
Chelsea’s extravagant spending over the previous two years has captured loads of consideration, however the tons of of tens of millions they’ve spent in Europe means their recruitment in South America has gone somewhat underneath the radar.
At 17, Kendry Paez has technically been a Chelsea participant since June 2023, when the Blues dedicated greater than £17m to signal him from Independiente del Valle. However the teenager should proceed to be affected person – he can solely transfer to London when he turns 18 subsequent summer time.
It is an attractive prospect for Chelsea followers. Paez has already recorded practically 50 appearances for Independiente after rising from the Ecuadorian membership’s academy, just some years behind future team-mate Moises Caicedo.
This is not a case of a determined membership compelled to take an opportunity on an academy expertise. Independiente are unbeaten in 15 LigaPro video games, sitting prime of the desk and competing within the Copa Libertadores. Paez has 5 objectives and 5 assists throughout 19 appearances, making him a agency fixture of the perfect facet in Ecuador.
It isn’t exhausting to see how Chelsea’s consideration was caught. From a place behind the striker or large on the correct, Paez makes use of his devilish left foot to bewilder defenders and goalkeepers alike. He has a penchant for long-range objectives and the occasional piece of showboating.
Understandably for somebody so younger, questions have been requested about Paez’s maturity – not least when he joined some Ecuador team-mates in a New York membership the night time earlier than a world recreation earlier this 12 months.
However the truth Paez is even within the senior worldwide facet is an illustration of his means. Of his 9 caps, seven got here from the beginning.
Paez will anticipate to be a fixture of Ecuador’s XI at Copa America. Will the identical be true at Chelsea?
