Chelsea could have a new superstar to help out one-man-band Cole Palmer, but the Blues face an agonising wait to get their hands on him. Starlet Kendry Paez has already been confirmed as a Chelsea signing, with the teenager having caught the eye in South America.
Lost in the midst of Todd Boehly’s spending spree was the purchase of the little-known Ecuadorian gem Paez. Splashing £17.27million on his signature, Paez is already displaying signs of being a shrewd pick-up for the west London outfit.
At least he will be when he turns up at Stamford Bridge, with Paez not set to join Chelsea until next summer. Paez – who is already a full Ecuadorian international – will join the Blues when he turns 18 in May 2025. So, for star man Palmer, he could be waiting a little longer before any help arrives.
Paez has at least trained with the Chelsea first-team, with the Premier League side having scheduled several visits to England for the teen. It’s done in an attempt to help him familiarise himself with the English game, before making the move official in a year’s time.
Speaking ahead of his first visit to Chelsea’s training complex last year, boss Mauricio Pochettino had said: “Of course, I know him. He is playing in the Ecuador national team. He was the youngest to make his debut. I follow the national teams, I follow them in South America, he is our player and I know him very well. He is a great talent.”
A dynamic midfielder, the teen can operate in front of a back four, or perform closer to the goal. And it’s in a more advanced position that Paez appears to cause the most damage, given he’s registered 11 goal contributions in 39 senior outings for Independiente del Valle. His latest came in stylish fashion, with Paez on target for Independiente during a Copa Libertadores group game against Palmeiras.
