Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Kendry Paez from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle for €20m (£17.27m).
The midfielder, who turned 16 last month, will move to Stamford Bridge after his 18th birthday – meaning he will likely join the Blues in the summer of 2025.
Paez who can play in midfield or on the wing – made his debut for Independiente del Valle at the age of 15 and is the youngest debutant and goalscorer in the Ecuadorian top flight.
He also made his first appearance in the Copa Libertadores – South America’s equivalent of the Champions League in a 2-1 win over Brazilian giants Corinthians last month.
Paez has shone at international level, most recently scoring one goal and assisting three more for Ecuador at this summer’s U20 World Cup
Chelsea right-back Reece James hopes his side ‘find their feet next season’ under the leadership of new manager Mauricio Pochettino
He also starred at the U17 Copa America, scoring two and assisting six while captaining his country, while he was also named as the top talent at the Next Generation Trophy a youth tournament featuring clubs from around the globe – last year.
Paez’s signing continues Chelsea’s owners led by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali – huge spending in the transfer window since their takeover last summer.
The Blues signed 19 players at a cost of more than £600m across the previous two transfer windows, yet still slumped to a 12th-placed finish in the Premier League, while they also failed to lift a trophy last season.
