WHO IS KENDRY PAEZ? THE 16-YEAR-OLD RECORD-BREAKER CHELSEA HAVE SIGNED FOR €20M

Chelsea have officially completed the signing of 16-year-old wonderkid Kendry Paez.

The Blues have been scouting the youngster for several months and faced competition from Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund for his signature.

But Independiente del Valle already revealed that the Ecuadorian will be heading to Stamford Bridge a few weeks ago.

"Today, I can say that Kendry Paez, in two years’ time, will go to Chelsea," said the club's director, Santiago Morales. The fee is thought to be €20 million, including add-ons. The Blues have now confirmed the deal.

Paez won't join Chelsea until 2025, however, when he turns 18. This gives the 16-year-old more time to develop before he arrives in west London.

The move aligns with Chelsea's recent transfer policy of signing the best young talents in world football.

What position does Paez play in?

Paez is an attack-minded player that typically plays behind a striker or off the flank.

As a left-footed player, he likes to cut inside onto his stronger foot from the right wing position.

How good is Paez?

The Ecuadorian is still a very young and raw talent, but the early signs are incredibly promising - hence why Chelsea are willing to fork out such a large fee for a 16-year-old.

Paez is described as a 'fearless dribbler' and is said to have taken inspiration from Lionel Messi.

He was introduced into the Independiente first-team ahead of the current season and has already notched his first senior goal for the club - in a 3-1 win over Mushuc Runa SC on the opening day of the campaign.

Furthermore, Paez has already impressed at international level for Ecuador's youth teams and recently made his debut for the senior side, becoming the second-youngest South American cap ever behind Diego Maradona.

He managed two goals and six assists in eight appearances at the U17 South American Championships earlier this year. Against Fiji at the U20 World Cup in Argentina, Paez became the youngest-ever player to score in the competition.

He then made his Ecuador debut in September 2023 before netting against Bolivia the following month to become the youngest player ever to score in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

What clubs are interested in Paez?

Man Utd, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea were the three clubs who expressed the most urgent desire to sign Paez, with the Red Devils keen to avoid making a similar mistake to when they lost out on Moises Caicedo to Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, that has happened, with Chelsea securing a €20m deal for the services of Paez.

When does Paez's contract expire?

The length of Paez's contract at Independiente is unknown as he is just 16 years old. He will likely be given a long contract when he officially joins Chelsea, in keeping with their recent policy on contract lengths.

How old is Paez?

Paez was born on May 4, 2007. He is 16 years old.

What is Paez's Instagram?

Paez has 121k followers on Instagram, as of April 2023. His handle is @kendrypaez.10.

2023-05-18T18:53:35Z dg43tfdfdgfd