Kendry Paez: Chelsea debut for Under-21s after stalled progress
Kendry Paez made his first appearance in Chelsea colours for Cobham Next Gen, the club's Under-21 side, as a 12th-minute substitute in a 4-1 win away to Arsenal on Saturday, three years after Chelsea agreed a £17.27m move for him from Independiente del Valle in 2023 when he was 16. The appearance comes after new manager Xabi Alonso said the midfielder was "not in my plans" and the club listed him as an academy player on its website.
Paez’s development since the transfer has not matched early expectations, despite 27 caps for Ecuador, an appearance at this summer's World Cup and a reputation alongside team-mate Estevao Willian as one of South America’s brightest prospects. Chelsea explored a domestic loan but were prevented from sending him abroad after using all six of their available international loan slots under Fifa regulations. The club allowed him to train with the first team before he was eligible to join officially at 18 and provided security for Paez and family members, including those of Moises Caicedo, after violence in Ecuador in early 2024.
Paez made headlines as a teenager in Ecuador, becoming the youngest debutant and goalscorer in the Ecuadorian top flight at 15 and later appearing in the Copa Libertadores that same season. He made his second appearance for Ecuador aged 16 years and 131 days, becoming the second-youngest South American to play in World Cup qualifying after Diego Maradona, and he became the youngest South American to score in a World Cup qualifier in a 2-1 win away to Bolivia. When Chelsea agreed his transfer he had two international goals and 18 caps.
Chelsea took steps to integrate Paez after signing him, but off-field incidents and mixed loan spells have complicated his progression; he was filmed in a New York strip club while on international duty. He initially impressed on loan at Strasbourg, winning September’s Young Player of the Month in Ligue 1, but then drew criticism from then-manager Liam Rosenior: "We expect more, clearly," Rosenior said later that season. "I'm tired of using the excuse of the player's youth." The Strasbourg loan was cut short after one goal in 21 appearances.
Paez then moved to River Plate on a two-year loan but faced similar scrutiny in Argentina, where sources flagged concerns about his attitude and a disappointing display in the 1-0 Superclasico defeat by Boca Juniors at the Monumental in April. Club president Stefano Di Carlo named him among 15 players training away from River Plate's first team, although other sources felt he could have been given more opportunities. His time at River Plate ended by mutual consent after one goal in 14 appearances, totalling 461 minutes.
There were signs of Paez’s quality amid the recent difficulties: in the dying moments of Cobham Next Gen’s EFL Trophy match at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday he delivered an outswinging cross from a short corner that Harrison Bettoni tapped in during added time and then provided another cross that caused problems as Chelsea chased an equaliser in front of 778 fans. Paez joined team warm-ups but appeared isolated from other academy players before kick-off, came on in the 62nd minute and operated as a right-sided No 10 in a system that mirrored Alonso's back-three shape, but was largely peripheral until his late contributions.
Chelsea have noted Paez’s previous senior experience — 70 appearances for Independiente and more than 100 senior matches overall — and say his attitude at Cobham has been encouraging, with family members in attendance at his recent match. The club can now monitor his progress more closely in the academy environment while those close to him believe there is still time for his development; academy fixtures continue to attract scouts from across the English Football League and beyond.
Those close to Paez are optimistic he can earn a first loan move in England in January, or alternatively wait for one of Chelsea’s six international loan slots to become available so he can move abroad again.
