Romano confirms Chelsea's plan for 'next Caicedo'

Cameron Smith

• 20 Feb 2024 18:11 GMT
• 3 min read

Ecuador wonderkid Kendry Paez will train with Chelsea’s first-team this week as he continues to gear up for a big-money move to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues signed Paez for in 2023, but he cannot play for the club until he turns 18 years old in 2025. According to reports, Chelsea have paid an initial €10m for the teenager, with an additional €10m in add-ons.

The 16-year-old is regarded as one of the best young talents in world football and he has already made five appearances for Ecuador’s senior national team despite his young age, scoring once.

Chelsea’s approach with Paez also suggests they believe he can have an immediate impact in the first-team upon his arrival ahead of the 2025-26 season.

What has Fabrizio Romano said?

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has outlined Chelsea’s plan for Paez on X, formerly known as Twitter. He posted: “Kendry Páez, already in London to train with Chelsea squad at Cobham this week as part of club's development plan.

“Kendry will also be in attendance for Carabao Cup final to support Chelsea and then back to Ecuador.

“He's gonna start playing for #CFC in summer 2025.”

Paez typically plays as an attacking midfielder or as a right winger and will join his international team-mate Moises Caicedo at Chelsea when he arrives at Stamford Bridge in 18 months time.

The teenager has played 29 times for Independiente del Valle’s first-team since his emergence onto the scene, and he was named as the best young player in the Ecuadorian league for 2023.

Furthermore, he also picked up the award for the best offensive midfielder in the country, plus was named in the Liga Pro Team of the Season.

Kendry Paez’s records

In October 2023, Paez became the youngest ever player to score in a South American World Cup qualifying match, while he is the youngest appearance-maker and youngest scorer in the Ecuadorian top flight after he netted 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 2023 tournament aged just 16.