Kendry Paez heads to South American giants on loan as Chelsea seek playing time for Ecuadorian gem. 18-year-old struggled for minutes at Strasbourg.
At the time when Moises Caicedo was finalising his huge move to Chelsea, talk began of another generational talent emerging alongside him in Ecuador. Kendry Paez has finally moved to Europe at the age of 18 after seasons at home, but after six months he is already on his way out. He will continue his development at River Plate.
The academy of Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle is currently undoubtedly one of the best academies in South America. If we look at the players they have sent out into the world in recent years, even on a global scale we would rate it very highly.
Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie, Joel Ordonez, Willian Pacho and Gonzalo Plata. They also developed Angel Preciado and John Mercado. Justin Lerma will move to Europe in the summer having signed for Dortmund, Chelsea have secured Deinner Ordonez and Arsenal have snapped up the Quintero brothers. This club is the reason behind the rise of football in Ecuador.
The Ecuadorian treasure's slow start
And everyone is waiting to see how the career of Kendry Paez, another exclusive product of this academy, will unfold. He is a player spoken of as an Ecuadorian national treasure and generational talent.
He played for the first team from the age of 15, at 16 he was starting for both Independiente and the senior national team, for whom he has 23 caps at just 18 years old. Chelsea secured his services very early, with the player preparing at the club since last January while waiting to turn 18 so he could officially play.
As expected, however, Chelsea sent him on loan to sister club Strasbourg, where he has failed to establish himself under Liam Rosenior. Competition is fierce in Strasbourg too. Another solution was therefore sought.
Kendry Paez returns to home continent
And one has been found. Kendry Paez is returning to South America on loan, where River Plate have set their sights on him. Another club with a renowned South American academy and one that is not afraid to give young attacking players a chance.
It will of course be a loan without an option to buy. Although things have not gone as Chelsea expected so far, the club still have big plans for this attacking talent in the future.
For Paez, however, it is important that he plays as many minutes as possible. And it is also important for Ecuador, who could well be the dark horse of the World Cup. And Kendry will of course be part of that.
