Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Independiente del Valle’s attacking midfielder and winger Kendry Paez for £17.6 million ($22m).
The Blues have now added another young player to the team, as they continue with Todd Boehly’s future-focused philosophy.
Kendry Paez, 15, will remain at his clubside in Ecuador for extra two years before joining Chelsea, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
When Kendry Paez moves down to Chelsea, he will most likely spend time in the Blues academy before moving to the first team.
Transfer Guru, Fabrizio Romano confirms in a report that: “Understand Chelsea have completed the documents to sign 2007-born midfielder and wonderkid Kendry Páez, done and here we go finally confirmed! ✨”
Many clubs wanted him but long term contract has been signed with Chelsea, but the club is yet to release any statement for now.
Kendry is set to join Chelsea in July 2025 when he turns 18 years as per FIFA transfer rules and the deal is reportedly completed.
Independiente del Valle will receive up to €20m fee for which will depend on the ad-ons and it will be a record package for Ecuadorian football.
Chelsea have struggled this season despite the massive spending in the transfer market in January.
Enzo Fernando and Mykhailo Mudryk can use their frustration in their first season at Chelsea to build on their potentials in the coming years.
Chelsea are no longer vying for any Silverware and the rest of their season will be focused on players growth and development.
As the season winds down, some of the team’s youngsters will enjoy more playing time at the club.
Kendry Paez
Ray Kendry Páez Andrade is an Ecuadorian footballer who was born on 4 May 2007. He plays as a midfielder for Independiente Del Valle.
Páez was born in Guayaquil, and his performances at the youth level, including being named most outstanding player at the 2022 Next Generation Trophy in Salzburg, Austria, drew the attention of multiple clubs across Europe.
The youngster reportedly attracted interest from German club Borussia Dortmund, while Manchester United had an opening bid for Páez rejected in December 2022.
Paéz is described as a fearless dribbler and took inspiration from fellow Ecuadorian Gonzalo Plata and Argentine Lionel Messi, both of whom he watched as a child, to improve his own dribbling ability.
Chelsea This Season
Chelsea fans are desperate for the 2022/23 campaign to end as soon as possible with their form being one of the worst in the club’s history.
Frank Lampard, who was appointed as interim manager until the end of the season following the dismissals of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, has failed to bring smiles to the Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea still have to face all the current top four teams between now and the end of the campaign, as rival fans hope that Chelsea get relegated.
Mathematically though – Chelsea can still be relegated from the Premier League this season.
The Blues have lost 14 league games this term, have 39 points from their 33 fixtures and are currently sitting in 12th place in the table.
They are only 9 points away from 18th place Nottingham Forest who are in the final relegation spot.
Leicester and Leeds, who are sitting in 16th and 17th respectively, are also nine points off of Lampard’s team.
Should Forest, Leicester and Leeds pick up at least ten points from their remaining four games, Chelsea will surely be relegated.
