Reports suggest that Chelsea are on the verge of signing 15-year-old Kendry Paez, a highly-rated attacking midfielder from Ecuador. The deal is said to be worth £17.5 million, but Paez will not be able to join the club until he turns 18 in 2025. Chelsea have reportedly been in talks with the player since February, and beat out competition from Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund for his signature.
Paez currently plays for Independiente del Valle in his homeland, and has already made three appearances for the first team, scoring one goal. Despite his young age, he is considered one of the most promising young talents in South America, which is why Chelsea were willing to spend big money on him.
This is not the first time that Chelsea have invested heavily in young talent. In the summer, they secured the signing of Brazil Under-20s captain Andrey Santos for £18 million. The 18-year-old central midfielder is set to join from Vasco da Gama once his work permit is cleared.
While Chelsea are busy securing the future of their squad with these young signings, they are also focused on finding a new manager following the sacking of Graham Potter. Several high-profile names have been linked with the job, including Luis Enrique, Mauricio Pochettino, and Julian Nagelsmann.
It is clear that Chelsea are committed to building a strong team for the future, and are willing to invest heavily in young talent to achieve this goal. With Paez and Santos set to join the club in the coming years, fans can look forward to seeing some exciting new faces in the team.