WONDERKIDS
Who is Kendry Páez? The future Chelsea star breaking records at 16
Páez became the youngest appearance maker and scorer in the Ecuadorian top flight, when he scored on his debut at just 15 years old.
Kendry Páez continues to break records. The 16-year-old is already a senior international with Ecuador and will officially join Chelsea in 2025.
Páez, born in Guayaquil on 4 May 2007, became the youngest appearance maker and scorer in the Ecuadorian top flight, when he scored on his debut at just 15 years old.
He made his debut with the Ecuador senior national team against Uruguay in September and on Thursday, at 16 years and 161 days old, Páez became the youngest ever South American to score in a World Cup qualifier when he netted Ecuador’s opening goal in their 2-1 win away to Bolivia.
The teenager was played through by Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo, before he curled his shot into the corner on what was only his second ever start for his country.
But that is now where the records end. Páez holds the record for being the youngest ever scorer at the FIFA U20 World Cup. He scored at 16 and also captained his country to the final of the South American U17 Championship earlier this year.
Joining Chelsea
The talented midfielder agreed to join Chelsea in June from Ecuadorian outfit Independiente del Valle in a deal believed to be worth £17.2m ($21m).
The South American wonderkid will not join the Premier League club - where Caicedo currently plies his trade - until he turns 18. He may not be making his Blues debut for another couple of seasons but fans at Stamford Bridge are already anticipating his arrival in the Premier League as he continues to display his talent for club and country.