Chelsea and Liverpool set to battle for South American wonderkids — including Robinho’s son
Chelsea’s South American scouting network continues to expand at full throttle, with the Blues eyeing the next breakout star from the continent.
Fresh from sealing deals for Moises Caicedo and Kendry Páez, and watching Estevão begin his London journey, Chelsea scouts are once again targeting Ecuador. Their latest focus is 15-year-old Deinner Ordóñez, a £14m-rated defender who has already made waves at Independiente del Valle.
Ordóñez’s rise has been rapid. Earlier this year, he became the youngest player in a decade to feature at the South American U20 Championships, picking up four caps for Ecuador. Already standing over 6ft tall, the right-footed centre-half is noted for his composure and ball-playing qualities despite often operating as a left centre-back. Comparisons are already being made with Piero Hincapié, Arsenal’s latest defensive addition.
Chelsea are expected to follow a similar strategy to the deal struck for Páez — securing Ordóñez early while allowing him to continue developing in Ecuador until he turns 18. Their pitch could be strengthened by the presence of two Ecuadorian stars already on their books.
But competition is fierce. Liverpool are also monitoring Ordóñez closely, with scouts impressed by his blend of physicality and technical ability. Other top European clubs are thought to be tracking him as well.
The Reds are casting their net even wider in South America. According to reports, they are also eyeing Robinho Junior, the 17-year-old son of ex-Manchester City forward Robinho. Playing at Santos, where his father first made his name, the teenager has already broken into the senior side after scoring four times at U20 level. Though still raw — with just 52 minutes of first-team football to his name — his potential has caught attention abroad.
For Chelsea, Liverpool, and other European giants, the South American talent race shows no signs of slowing. With clubs desperate to secure the next generational star early, Ordóñez and Robinho Junior may soon be at the center of a high-profile transfer tug-of-war.
