Chelsea wonderkid Kendry Paez scores stunner as transfer edges closer
Cameron Smith
- 23 Oct 2023 16:39 BST
- 3 min read
Kendry Paez continues to light it up in Ecuador as his move to Chelsea draws closer with each passing day.
The 16-year-old will join the Blues when he turns 18 in 2025, after a €20 million fee was agreed with Independiente del Valle earlier this year, and his form since the deal was finalised has been immense.
READ MORE: When will Kendry Paez join Chelsea?
Paez is now the youngest ever player to score in a South American World Cup qualifying match after netting against Bolivia in October 2023, while he is the youngest appearance-maker and youngest scorer in the Ecuadorian top flight thanks to scoring on his debut in the competition at 15 years old.
In addition, the soon-to-be Chelsea star is also the youngest ever goal-scorer in the history of the FIFA U20 World Cup after he bagged in the tournament aged just 16 earlier in 2023.
READ MORE: Who is Kendry Paez? The 16-year-old record-breaker Chelsea have signed for €20m
Paez’s scores again for Independiente
Paez’s sparkling form continued on Sunday night with a stunning strike in Independiente’s 2-0 win over Guayaquil City. It was the second consecutive league game in which Paez had found the back of the net after he also scored in a win against Gualaceo SC on 8 October.
Kendry Paez with a stunning goal in the Ecuadorian league vs Guayaquilpic.twitter.com/W8rpivjzWP
— CFC Central (@CFCCentral3) October 22, 2023
The ball was laid off to Paez around 25 yards out and after setting himself with a cushioned first touch, the young Ecuadorian launched an arrow into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper absolutely helpless.
It may be a little early to draw comparisons to Lionel Messi, but the goal certainly resembled a strike the Argentine football legend has become renowned for in recent years.
For someone aged just 16, Paez certainly seems to have the world at his feet and if he continues his current trajectory then Chelsea will have an absolute gem on their hands when he joins the club in two years.
He will likely operate in similar areas to current star Cole Palmer, given his ability to play as an attacking midfielder or off the right wing, so how Paez fits in at Stamford Bridge will be an interesting dilemma, but that problem is not something the Blues need to worry about just yet.
For now, they must simply be thankful they agreed a deal for Paez so early.
