Three years after Chelsea agreed to sign him as a 16-year-old wonderkid, Kendry Paez finally wore the club's colours for the first time – but not for the senior side he once seemed destined for. Instead, the 19-year-old appeared as a substitute for Cobham Next Gen, Chelsea's rebranded Under-21 team, in a 4-1 win at Arsenal, underlining just how far his career has drifted from its early promise.
Chelsea paid £17.27m to Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in 2023 to secure Paez's signature, viewing him as one of South America's outstanding young talents. He had already broken records back home, becoming the youngest player to debut and score in the Ecuadorian top flight at 15, before making his Copa Libertadores bow that same season. Later in 2023, he became the second-youngest South American to appear in a World Cup qualifier after Diego Maradona, and the youngest South American to score in one, netting against Bolivia.
Given that pedigree, Chelsea allowed him to train with the first team before his 18th birthday made him officially eligible, and even arranged security for Paez and his family, along with that of fellow Ecuadorian international Moises Caicedo, amid unrest in Ecuador in early 2024. But the trajectory of his career soon began to shift.
An incident in which he was filmed at a New York strip club during international duty raised early concerns. His development has since stalled through a series of loan spells that failed to ignite. At Strasbourg, Chelsea's sister club, he won the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Month award in September but was later criticised by then-manager Liam Rosenior, who said: "We expect more, clearly. I'm tired of using the excuse of the player's youth." The loan was cut short after just one goal in 21 appearances.
He then moved to Argentine giants River Plate on a two-year loan, but that spell also disappointed. Sources in Argentina reportedly raised questions about his attitude, particularly after a poor performance in the Superclasico defeat to Boca Juniors in April. Club president Stefano Di Carlo later named him among 15 players training away from the first team, though some felt he deserved more chances. The loan was ended by mutual consent, with Paez managing just one goal in 14 appearances.
Back in Ecuador, concern has grown around a player once hailed as the nation's next great attacking star. Michel Deller, owner of Independiente del Valle, described Paez as "like a son" to the club, saying: "He's a good kid who's had a tough time and has made decisions that have complicated his life. We are always hopeful he'll show his exceptional talent again but right now, it's up to him to decide what to do with his life."
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has made clear that Paez is "not in my plans", and the club has listed him as an academy player. A domestic loan was explored, but FIFA rules on international loan quotas – all six of Chelsea's slots already used – left the club unable to send him abroad again.
Despite the turmoil, there were flashes of quality during Chelsea's Under-21 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Trophy, where Paez, playing off the bench, set up a stoppage-time goal and created further danger before the final whistle. Still, he appeared somewhat isolated among his academy teammates before kick-off, a language barrier perhaps contributing to his separation.
With 27 caps for Ecuador, World Cup experience, and over 100 senior appearances to his name, Paez retains a foundation to rebuild from. Chelsea remain encouraged by his attitude in training and hope a new loan move, either domestically in January or abroad once an international slot frees up, could help him rediscover the form that first caught their eye.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.