Attacking midfielder Kendri Paez has finally donned the blue jersey of Chelsea — three years after the London club agreed to his move to Stamford Bridge. However, his debut hardly resembles a fairytale: the 19-year-old prodigy has only featured for the Under-21 side.
The club secured Paez’s transfer from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle back in 2023, parting with a hefty £17.27 million for the then 16-year-old. At that time, it seemed Chelsea had a future Ballon d'Or winner on their hands. Yet, the trajectory of the midfielder's career has taken an unexpected turn.
Paez made his official bow for the club last Saturday with the Cobham Next Gen (the new official name of Chelsea's youth team), coming on as a substitute in the 12th minute during an away match against Arsenal's reserves, which ended in a 4-1 defeat. This came right after new first-team head coach Xabi Alonso bluntly stated that the player "is not in my plans". Subsequently, the Ecuadorian's name was removed from the first-team squad list on Chelsea's official website and he was relegated to the academy's roster.
The hierarchy tried urgently to find a loan move for the player within England, but FIFA's strict regulations have left the club in a bind: Chelsea has already exhausted all six allowed international loan slots, making it impossible to send Paez abroad.
With 27 caps for Ecuador's senior national team, participation in last summer's World Cup, and a reputation as one of South America's brightest talents alongside colleague Estevao, how has Paez ended up in the reserves?
Rise and fall: strip clubs, scandals, and exile
Paez's career began like an action-packed blockbuster. At just 15, he became the youngest debutant and scorer in Ecuador's league history, later competing in the Copa Libertadores during the same season.
By autumn 2023, at only 16 years and 131 days, the midfielder played his second match for the national team, making him the second youngest South American representative in World Cup qualifiers, following Diego Maradona. Just a month later, he etched his name in the continent's history books again, scoring the youngest goal in South American qualification during a match against Bolivia (2-1).
It was no wonder Chelsea’s ownership viewed him as a ready-made global star. Up until his 18th birthday, the club regularly brought the teenager to Cobham for training with the first team. They even provided round-the-clock security for Paez's family and fellow countryman Moises Caicedo when criminal unrest flared in Ecuador at the start of 2024.
However, the pressures of fame and fortune began to take their toll on the player. Mere months after his family's safety was secured, Paez found himself embroiled in a scandal when he was spotted at a strip club in New York while on international duty.
His first European loan to neighbouring Strasbourg started well, as Paez was named the best young player of the month in Ligue 1. But conflicts quickly followed. The then-coach of the French side, Liam Rosienor, was far from pleased:
"It is clear that we expect much more. I’m tired of hearing endless excuses about the player’s youth."
Despite shared ownership of the clubs, the loan spell in France was cut short — Paez managed to score just once in 21 appearances. Next, he was shipped out on a two-year loan to Argentine giants River Plate.
In Argentina, disciplinary issues resurfaced with renewed vigour. Sources from BBC Sport confirmed concerns about his commitment, pointing to a lacklustre performance in a lost Superclasico against Boca Juniors (0-1) at Estadio Monumental in April.
Shortly thereafter, River Plate's president, Stefano Di Carlo, placed the Ecuadorian on a blacklist of 15 players banned from training with the first team. While some pundits felt he deserved more time, the contract was mutually terminated: Paez had spent a dismal 461 minutes on the pitch across 14 matches, finding the net just once.
At home, there are genuine concerns for the future of this national treasure. Independiente's owner, Michel Deller, spoke candidly:
"He is like a son to us. We genuinely worry for him. Kendri is a good lad who has been through a tough time, but he’s made choices that have complicated his life significantly. We do not lose hope that he will once again showcase his exceptional talent to the world. But right now, it is up to him to decide how to move forward."
Those around the player and at Chelsea acknowledge the issues but believe the criticism is exaggerated, asserting that he simply requires time for personal and footballing development.
Is there a chance for a career revival?
Glimmers of genius still remain. In a recent EFL Trophy match against Wycombe Wanderers, Paez ignited a drab game for Chelsea’s youth side. Coming off the bench in the 62nd minute, the Ecuadorian delivered a stunning cross from a corner to Harrison Bettoni just seconds before the final whistle, then produced another incisive cross in front of a modest crowd of just 778 spectators.
Before this flashes of brilliance, the Spanish-speaking talent had appeared isolated on the field: standing apart from his teammates at the start of the match and playing as a right-sided 'number ten' (similar to Cole Palmer) in a tactical setup that mirrored Xabi Alonso’s model with three central defenders.
Despite his youth, Paez has already played 70 matches for Independiente and boasts over a hundred appearances at senior level. This foundation offers hope for his revival.
Chelsea’s hierarchy have noted positive shifts in his attitude after returning to Cobham. Paez is training in elite conditions, and his family has relocated to England to support him from the stands — they even attended the unremarkable game in Wycombe.
The main advantage of being part of the youth setup is that hundreds of scouts from across England and Europe attend the reserve league matches. Those close to the player are hopeful that Paez will shine before winter, allowing him to secure a full loan to a Championship club or occupy a released international slot. His potential has not disappeared; rescuing this prodigy’s career is still possible, but Paez has already burned through his allowance for mistakes.
