Chelsea’s long-awaited acquisition of Ecuadorian prodigy Kendry Paez is finally reaching its destination. On Friday, the now 18-year-old officially said farewell to Independiente del Valle, marking the end of his South American chapter and the beginning of a highly anticipated — yet cautiously approached — journey to Europe.
Signed in June 2023 for £17.2 million when he was only 16, Paez has been on Chelsea’s radar as a generational talent. However, FIFA regulations barred the move until he turned 18, forcing the Blues to wait two years while monitoring his progress from afar.
But not everything has gone according to plan.
Behind the scenes, concern has grown at Stamford Bridge regarding his attitude and form. According to MailOnline, Chelsea have become wary of a string of off-the-pitch incidents and a few underwhelming showings that didn’t quite live up to the hype surrounding the young midfielder.
In response, and as part of his European integration strategy, Paez has been training with RC Strasbourg, another club under the BlueCo ownership umbrella. The move isn’t permanent or competitive yet — it’s a preparatory measure to ease his transition from Ecuadorian football to the rigors of European intensity.
Chelsea remain committed to his future but are aware that development isn’t guaranteed by talent alone. The Strasbourg spell will give them a closer look, both in terms of his technical growth and his discipline, before making any decisions about his integration into the first-team squad.
Key Takeaway:
Kendry Paez has officially left Ecuador and is heading toward the Premier League — but Chelsea’s optimism is tinged with caution. All eyes now turn to Strasbourg, where the real assessment of Paez’s readiness for elite football begins.
