Chelsea set to fork out £17 million on 15-year-old Ecuadorian sensation

Chelsea are set to finalise a £17m deal to sign Ecuadorian teenager Kendry Paez from Independiente Del Valle.

Chelsea look set to win the race to sign the 15-year-old midfielder, whose performances have attracted interest from Europe’s leading clubs. Paez was promoted to the Independiente Del Valle first team ahead of the 2023 campaign and marked his debut with a goal against Mushuc Runa in February.

The teenager is the latest in an exciting crop of Ecuadorian talents that also include Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié, with Paez set to follow that duo to Europe to continue his development.

Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Chelsea have agreed a €20m (£17m) deal to sign the midfielder and a full agreement has been reached over the transfer, which will take place in 2025 when Paez turns 18 – as per FIFA rules.

Understand FA and Premier League are set to approve the transfer of talented 2007-born midfielder Kendry Paéz to Chelsea — to be signed soon. 🚨🔵🇪🇨 #CFC

€20m package — main part depending add-ons.

Full agreement since March — Kendry will join in 2025 when he’ll turn 18. pic.twitter.com/1joNVU2ZLs

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 17, 2023