Clever Paz
Nation: Ecuador
Age: 17
Place: Attacking midfielder
Variety of appearances: 9 (1 objective)
Membership: Independiente del Valle (Chelsea, from 2025)
Chelsea’s spending spree over the previous two years has attracted widespread consideration, however the lots of of tens of millions they’ve spent in Europe means their South American signings are considerably below the radar.
Kendry Paz, 17, has been a Chelsea participant since June 2023, when the Blues dedicated greater than £17 million to signal him from Independiente Valais. However the teenager should proceed to be affected person – he turns 18 subsequent summer season earlier than shifting to London.
For Chelsea followers, it is an attractive prospect. Paes has made practically 50 appearances for Independiente after graduating from the Ecuadorian membership’s youth academy, only a few years behind future teammate Moises Caice.
This isn’t a case of a determined membership being pressured to take an opportunity on academy expertise. Independiente are unbeaten in 15 skilled league video games, high the desk and are competing within the Copa Libertadores. Paes scored 5 objectives and supplied 5 assists in 19 video games, making him a member of Ecuador’s finest crew.
It is not onerous to see how Chelsea might appeal to consideration. From behind the striker or out broad to the proper, Paes confuses defenders and goalkeepers along with his depraved left foot. He has a penchant for long-range objectives and the occasional show-off.
For somebody so younger, it is comprehensible that questions have been raised about Paes’ maturity – particularly earlier this 12 months when he joined a few of his Ecuadorian teammates on the New York membership the night time earlier than a global match hour.
However the truth that Paes has even made it into the nationwide crew’s first crew is a testomony to his skill. Of his 9 appearances, seven had been begins.
Paez is anticipated to be a part of Ecuador’s Copa America eleven. Will the identical occur to Chelsea?
