Chelsea paid less for wonderkid Kendry Paez, confirms club director

Chelsea have potentially landed themselves a transfer bargain.

The Blues earlier this week confirmed the signing of South American wonderkid Kendry Paez.

The 16-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder will move to Stamford Bridge after he turns 18 in May 2025.

It had been reported that Chelsea agreed to pay Ecuadorian Serie A leaders Independiente del Valle more than £17.5million, if all performance-related add-ons are met.

But club director Santiago Morales insists Chelsea will actually pay less for a player also tracked by both Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.

“Because of what the country is experiencing, I would not dare to give the amounts for the transfer of Kendry Paez to Chelsea," he told Mach Deportes.

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"But it is not the $20 million that is being talked about, it’s a smaller amount."

Paez is considered a hugely talented youngster, having impressed for Ecuador at the recent U20 World Cup and previously captained his country at U17 Copa America.