15-year-old Chelsea target scores on pro debut

Stuart Telford

• 26 Feb 2023 11:27 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea are closing in on a deal for 15-year-old Ecuadorean starlet Kendry Paez, who scored on his professional debut on Saturday.

Paez is considered to be the next big star of Ecuadorean, and possibly Latin American, football, and the Blues have scouted him as they continue with their "Vision 2030" project under Todd Boehly.

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, a deal for the young midfielder is soon to be concluded between Chelsea and his current employers Independiente del Valle.

READ: Chelsea closing in on deal for ‘Ecuadorian gem’ Kendry Paez – Fabrizio Romano

"Ecuador top talent Kendry Paez could smash previous transfer record held by [Moises] Caicedo to Brighton," he Tweeted recently.

"2007 talented midfielder, will debut at just 15 years old - many top European clubs want to sign him, Kendry was the Player of the Tournament in Salzburg Next Gen trophy."

That debut has now arrived, with Paez starting Independiente del Valle's Ecuadorian Serie A meeting with Mushuc Runa on Saturday. Not only did he start, but he scored the third and final goal in a 3-1 win.

It was a stunning conversion at that, Paez lobbing opposition goalkeeper Jorge Pinos with a finish well beyond his years.

READ: Who is Kendry Paez? The Ecuadorian teenager wanted by Chelsea and Man Utd

Potential Paez problem

Similar to Endrick's move to Real Madrid from Palmeiras, which will be completed in the summer of 2024, Paez cannot join Chelsea until he turns 18, which will happen in May 2025, meaning the 2024/25 summer transfer window is the earliest he can arrive.

Paez isn’t the first South American youngster signed in the Boehly era, with Andrey Santos joining from Vasco da Gama in January.

The Brazilian doesn't meet UK work permit criteria, and Chelsea are looking at ways to loan him out, with a return to Brazil with Vasco or Palmeiras floated in recent days.

Boehly has been in talks with Strasbourg's president Marc Keller, meanwhile, with the Ligue 1 outfit seen as a potential vehicle for deals such as Santos' and Paez's, with French ruled more forgiving about a lack of senior international caps.