Chelsea has successfully secured the signing of 16-year-old wonderkid Kendry Paez from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle, as confirmed by the club. The Blues were reportedly ahead in the race to sign the talented teenager, who also garnered interest from Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. Although reports of Paez’s deal being done had circulated earlier this year, the transfer is now official. The fee for Paez is expected to be up to €20 million, with bonus payments included.
However, Chelsea fans eager to see Paez in action will have to wait until he turns 18 due to FIFA rules. This means he will not join the club until the summer of 2025. The deal is similar to the one Real Madrid made for Santos wonderkid Endrick, who will also not join the club until he turns 18. According to Santiago Morales, director of Independiente del Valle, Chelsea demonstrated the most interest in Paez among all the clubs that made offers, including Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.
Chelsea reaffirm commitment to youth
Chelsea’s signing of Kendry Paez further demonstrates the club’s commitment to youth in the transfer market. This focus on young talent has been evident in the past two transfer windows, during which Chelsea has spent over €600m to attract some of the most promising young players in world football to the club.
However, despite this investment, Chelsea’s results this season have not been immediate, and they currently sit in the lower half of the Premier League standings. By the time Paez joins the club permanently, he will likely hope that Chelsea has regained its status as a Champions League side. Nonetheless, the club’s commitment to youth suggests they are building for the future, and will continue to invest in promising young players in the years to come.