Chelsea secure their first summer transfer as club director confirms deal but fans will have to wait YEARS to see him
CHELSEA have struck a deal that will result in Ecuadorian prodigy Kendry Paez joining the club.
However, fans will have to wait until 2025 to see him as Independiente director Santiago Morales has confirmed the deal.
1
16-year-old Paez will stay with the Argentine club until he is 18 and can make the move across the Atlantic.
Because players from South America have to wait until they are 18 years old before coming to Europe.
With the signing of the midfielder, Chelsea beat top clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.
Morales confirmed his club had received offers from Premier League and Bundesliga sides but accepted Chelsea’s offer.
He told El Canal del Futbol: “Today I can say that Kendry Páez will be a Chelsea player in 2025.
“We’ve had offers from Man United and Borussia Dortmund but Chelsea have shown a lot of interest.”
The Blues are set to pay more than £17.5million for the teenager.
Paez is considered one of the best young players in world football, having burst onto the scene in Ecuador.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Despite his young age, he has already made six appearances for Independiente’s senior team, scoring one goal.
He was also a regular for the Ecuadorian U17 team and scored five goals in 13 games.
The South American country has become a hotspot for talent, with the likes of Moises Caicedo, Jeremy Sarmiento and Pervis Esputinan all playing for Brighton in the Premier League.
