April 28, (THEWILL) – One of South America’s most promising young players, 15-year-old Kendry Paez, is set to join Chelsea in 2025 in a deal worth up to €20m when all bonuses are factored in.
Santiago Morales, the general manager of Paez’s current club, Independiente del Valle, confirmed the news, stating that there is already a “specific interest” from Chelsea, and the deal is practically arranged between the parties.
However, FIFA prohibits such negotiations for players under the age of 18, and Morales acknowledges that they are currently examining the legal options. “We are going to be fortunate enough to be able to enjoy him for at least two more years until he turns 18 and then he can go,” he added.
While English clubs used to be able to sign young players from inside the European Union, Brexit has now made it mandatory for such players to be 18 before making the move. This has forced Chelsea to focus on homegrown talents instead. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is also waiting to sign a 16-year-old striker from Brazilian side Palmeiras, with a €70m deal already signed.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
