Before Chelsea transfer: Ecuador talent Kendry Páez in portrait

BVB & Bayer were also there

The article first appeared after reports of the signature emerged on May 2nd and was subsequently updated with expert opinions.

Chelsea are about to sign what is perhaps one of the greatest attacking talents in the world. Kendry Páez, who celebrates his 16th birthday this Thursday, was already a 15-year-old part of the professional squad of the Copa Sudamericana winners Independiente del Valle in his home country of Ecuador. He is said to have opted for a transfer to Stamford Bridge. However, this will only be completed when Páez turns 18 in 2025. This is reported by a transfer expert Fabrizio Romanowho has been accompanying the negotiations for a long time and gave the change his label “Here we go” on Tuesday.

Accordingly, the contracts have already been signed, only the announcement of the clubs is missing. According to Romano, the U17 national player, who most recently led his team to second place at the South American Championship in 2023, can cost around 20 million euros – but most of the sum was agreed in bonuses. The record sale of the Ecuadorian Serie A since August 2019 is striker Bryan Angulo, who then went to Mexico for CD Cruz Azul for 5.8 million euros. Also on the podium are current Premier League star Moisés Caicedo (€5m) and future Frankfurt player Willian Pacho (€5.6m). Depending on the availability of the bonuses, Páez is likely to overshadow them in the coming years.

South America expert on Chelsea transfer Kendry Páez: Cheaper than Brazilians

Why are Chelsea willing to pay €20m for a now 16-year-old? “On the one hand, this is due to its great potential and also to the fact that the Ecuadorian market is growing so quickly,” says the South America expert and moderator Tactical Manager YouTube Channel Filippo Silva opposite Transfermarkt. “A great job is being done in Ecuador. Plus, Páez is still cheaper than comparable Brazilian talent. He is considered to be similarly talented as Endrick, but only costs a third of the price.” Real Madrid signed the Palmeiras talent, also only 16, for his 18th birthday for 35 million euros, but the deal can even be increased to 72 million euros including bonuses . Euro.

Samuel Vázquez Rivas, Transfermarkt Area Manager for Colombia and South America expert, agrees with Silva: “He is special in Ecuador. He has just turned 16 but is already the most valuable player in Serie A. There is no doubt that he is the Ecuadorian player with the brightest future.” In the last market value update, Páez was given a starting value of €3m until age 17 there are only ten players in the world rated higher. He is level with Bayern talent Paul Wanner or Jobe Bellingham, brother of BVB professional Jude – both are 17 years old. Before the Chelsea rumors really got going, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen were also linked to Páez. That probably drove the price up as well. In addition, under Todd Boehly, Chelsea tend to pay very high sums, sometimes well above market value, to secure a talent ahead of the competition.

Kendry Páez: Great talent – but moving to Chelsea is also a risk

Silva, meanwhile, wonders “if Páez’s move to Chelsea is the best decision. The club is a mess at the moment and there is always a risk that they will end up in the loan army. Still, I think he has a great future. Due to his enormous talent, Páez could be a success despite his move to a club that is currently in a very difficult situation both on and off the pitch.” Especially since it is of course not said that the situation at Stamford Bridge in not turn back for the next two years.

Silva says of Páez’s qualities: “He’s a left-hand attacking midfielder who has all the technical skills and is quite athletic for his age. That’s why he’s able to play with a grown man.” One name that comes up often when talking to experts about Páez is Ángel Di María. “Páez is talented, has great technique, is very good at one-on-ones and does magic whenever he can,” said TM expert Vázquez Rivas. “Despite his small size, his influence in attack is outstanding and he manages to shatter opponents’ defences, at least in his youth classes.” Other aspects highlighted are his set pieces and his ability to play in the middle.

So where are the limits of Páez? “He will probably be remembered as a talent that you rarely see in Ecuador,” says Vázquez Rivas. “I would like to stress that it is very difficult to say how far he can actually go in Europe, but considering that Ecuadorian players tend to be more physical and robust, there is a good chance that he will succeed could.” The only question might be whether Chelsea are the club that can ultimately develop Páez into a superstar. But there is still a long way to go before 2025.

Collaboration: Manuel Veth, Marius Soyke

To home page