Chelsea beat Man Utd to €20m signing after Potter sacking

Robin Bairner

• 3 Apr 2023 07:46 BST
• 4 min read

Chelsea will complete a deal to sign wonderkid Kendry Paez from Independiente del Valle imminently, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Stamford Bridge side may be faced with a large compensation bill after sacking manager Graham Potter, but they are not about to let that stop them spending big on transfer fees, with the Blues already closing in on the 15-year-old player, who had also been closely linked with Man Utd.

Romano reports that the entire package for Paez could rise to as much as €20 million, which includes potential bonus payments.

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

According to the Italian transfer specialist: “The deal will be signed soon.”

He also gave it his famous "here we go", indicating that the completion of the deal is very close.

Chelsea fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Paez’s talents will have to be patient, though. The teenager, who scored on his professional debut in Ecuador, will not be allowed to join the club until he turns 18. This is because of FIFA regulations.

It is a transfer deal that holds similarities to that which Real Madrid have signed with Endrick, the young Brazilian talent at Palmeiras. Los Blancs have agreed a €35m upfront fee for the 16-year-old with bonuses of up to €25m. However, the risks of such a move have been made apparent with the teenager suffering a slump in form.

MORE: Romano names Chelsea's favoured candidate to replace Potter

Chelsea still thinking long term

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s willingness to complete this transfer underlines their commitment to a long-term project, which was justifiably questioned when Potter was sacked on Sunday.

Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, the club’s main investors, have made it clear that they want to build a long-term foundation for success but after dismissing Potter after less than seven months in charge, questions have been raised over whether they will have the necessary patience for such a project.

The transfer of Paez, who will not even arrive at Chelsea until 2025, after which it might be a year or more before he is threatening to play in the first team, shows the club’s owners will not back down from their goals.