Of all the young talents that Chelsea have signed since the new owners came in five transfer window ago, few have generated the excitement of Kendry Paez.
The 17-year-old is eligible to join up with the Blues when he turns 18, and has already made a serious impression on international football.
Paez has been a regular in the Ecuador senior squad alongside record signing Moises Caicedo, making 17 appearances since his debut in 2023.
Chelsea request for Kendry Paez to move to Europe early
He broke Pele’s record of becoming the youngest South American to contribute to a goal when he picked up an assist in a 2-1 win over Uruguay.
It has been expected all this time that Paez would join up with Enzo Maresca’s side at the end of the season, getting minutes for his current club, Independiente del Valle until he moves.
However, according to Luis Fernando Saritama, that may now not be the case, with the Blues wanting him to acclimatise to life in Europe so he is ready to feature immediately.
He told Futbolecuador: “The intention of both is to have a period of adaptation in Europe before he turns 18.
“Last week we spoke with Kendry Páez, there are two possibilities. Chelsea has requested that the player have a period of adaptation in Europe from now on. We are analysing it with his representation agency and the club that owns his rights.
“On the 17th or 20th of this month, Kendry Páez will make his first trip to Europe. What prevails here is the decision of the club and the player, and the intention of both is to have a period of adaptation in Europe before he turns 18.
“I would not rule out the possibility that Kendry will not play with us these months, however, the issue of the adaptation period is being evaluated. He has told us of his intention to have an adaptation period in Europe and we understand that.”
Could Kendry Paez play for Chelsea next season?
Chelsea are stacked in quality in the attacking areas at the moment, with a number of players like Joao Felix having to go on loan to get regular minutes.
However, the club think they have hit the jackpot with the acquisition of Paez and Estevao Willian, who they also signed for big money.
It was reported recently that Paez could be in line for a loan move to Strasbourg when his move is made official, although this was something the player’s representatives disagreed was set in stone.
Chelsea fans will be excited to see Paez in action, as their first team squad looks set to get even younger.
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