Kendry Páez Explained

Ray Kendry Páez Andrade (born 4 May 2007) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ecuadorian Serie A club Independiente del Valle and the Ecuador national team. He will join Premier League club Chelsea in July 2025.

Club career

Early career

Born in Guayaquil, Páez began his career with local side Barcelona's youth department Academia Alfaro Moreno at the age of five. Barcelona SC was offered the chance to register Páez at the age of eight, but the club did not sign him as it was "too hard for a president to pay for a player at this age".^[2] He later had a short stint at Emelec before moving to Patria, where he started to feature more regularly as a forward.^[3]

Independiente del Valle

Páez joined Independiente del Valle in 2018, aged 12. His performances for their youth team, including being named most outstanding player at the 2022 Next Generation Trophy in Salzburg, Austria, drew the attention of multiple clubs across Europe.^{[4] [5]} He reportedly attracted interest from German club Borussia Dortmund,^[6] while English side Manchester United had an opening bid for Páez rejected in December 2022.^[7]

He was promoted to the Independiente del Valle's first team for the 2023 pre-season, at the age of fifteen.^[7] On 25 February 2021, he marked his highly anticipated professional debut with a goal; the third in a 3–1 Ecuadorian Serie A win over Mushuc Runa. Having received a lifted cut-back on the right-hand side of the penalty area from Anthony Landázuri, he instinctively floated the ball over the goalkeeper, Jorge Pinos, on the volley into the far corner of the goal.^[8] In doing so, he became the youngest debutant, and youngest goal-scorer, in the Ecuadorian top flight.^[9]

Chelsea

On 5 June 2023, it was announced that Páez would join Premier League club Chelsea after his 18th birthday, in the summer of 2025.^[10]

International career

Youth

Paéz has represented Ecuador at under-17 level, scoring against both Argentina and Colombia.^{[7] [11]} He was left out of Ecuador's under-20 squad for the 2023 South American U-20 Championship to facilitate his transition into the Independiente del Valle first team squad.^[12]

He was called up to the Ecuador under-17 squad again for the 2023 South American U-17 Championship in March 2023. In their first game, he provided an assist for Ecuador's second goal in their 2–2 comeback draw with Brazil - a through-ball from his own half which was then converted by teammate Geremy de Jesús.^[13] Páez was included in Ecuador's squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina; he was the youngest player to be included in the final squad of any of the participating nations in the tournament. On 26 May, Páez scored a goal in Ecuador's 9–0 win over Fiji, becoming the youngest player to score in the FIFA U20 World Cup.^[14]

Senior

On 5 June 2023, Páez was called up to the Ecuador senior squad for the first time.^[15]

On 12 September 2023, Páez made his debut with the senior team, starting in a 2–1 World Cup qualifier win over Uruguay and providing the assist for Félix Torres' match winning goal. Thus, he became the youngest player ever to represent La Tri and the second youngest South American to ever play international football behind Diego Maradona.^[16] On 12 October, he scored his first goal for Ecuador in a 2–1 win over Bolivia, becoming the youngest ever goalscorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers at the age of 16 years and 161 days.^{[17] [18]}

On 29 May 2024, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América.^[19] On 26 June, he scored a penalty in a 3–1 victory against Jamaica, becoming the second youngest scorer in the competition, aged 17 years and 53 days, following Johnnier Montaño.^[20]

Style of play

Described as a fearless dribbler, Paéz took inspiration from fellow Ecuadorian Gonzalo Plata and Argentine Lionel Messi, both of whom he watched as a child, to improve his own dribbling ability.^[21]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Copa Ecuador		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Independiente del Valle	2023	Ecuadorian Serie A	24	5	—		5	0	29	5
	2024		21	6	3	0	8	1	32	7
Career total			45	11	3	0	13	1	61	12

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals

Ecuador	2023	5	1
	2024	12	1
Total		17	2

Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Kendry Páez

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 October 2023	Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia		1–0	2–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	26 June 2024	Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, United States		2–0	3–1

Notes and References

1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Ecuador (ECU) . FIFA . 5 . 22 May 2023 . 30 May 2023 . 12 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512125847/https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce89/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf . live .
2. Web site: Revelan el motivo por el cual Barcelona SC no fichó a Kendry Páez. Revealed the reason why Barcelona SC did not sign Kendry Páez. El VAR. es. 25 April 2023. 5 June 2023. 5 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605203223/https://www.elvar.com.ec/noticias/2023/04/25/1251-revelan-el-motivo-por-el-cual-barcelona-sc-no-ficho-a-kendry-paez. dead.
3. Web site: Kendry Páez pasó por Barcelona y Emelec antes de llegar a Independiente del Valle. Kendry Páez represented Barcelona and Emelec before arriving at Independiente del Valle. El Comercio. es. 2 March 2023. 5 June 2023. 5 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605203223/https://www.elcomercio.com/deportes/futbol/kendry-paez-barcelona-emelec-independiente-valle.html. live.
4. Web site: Kendry Paéz, promesa tricolor, es buscado desde Europa. Kendry Paéz, tricolor promise, is wanted from Europe. Paulo. Álvarez. 16 January 2023. 29 January 2023. benditofutbol.com. Spanish. 29 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230129005252/https://www.benditofutbol.com/legionarios/kendry-paez-promesa-fichaje-europa.html. dead.
5. Web site: Kendry Páez, la joya guayaquileña de 15 años que brilla en las formativas de Independiente del Valle y que interesa a clubes importantes de Europa. Kendry Páez, the 15-year-old jewel from Guayaquil who shines in the training sessions of Independiente del Valle and who interests important clubs in Europe. 18 January 2023. 29 January 2023. eluniverso.com. Spanish. 29 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230129005255/https://www.eluniverso.com/deportes/futbol/kendry-paez-la-joya-guayaquilena-de-15-anos-que-brilla-en-las-formativas-de-independiente-del-valle-y-que-interesa-a-los-mejores-clubes-de-europa-nota/. live.
6. Web site: Exclusivo: el club europeo que ya habló con IDV para fichar a Kendry Páez. Exclusive: the European club that already spoke with IDV to sign Kendry Páez. 16 January 2023. 29 January 2023. ole.com.ar. Spanish.
7. Web site: La importante decisión que tomó IDV con Kendry Páez. The important decision that IDV made with Kendry Páez. 15 December 2022. 29 January 2023. ole.com.ar. Spanish. 29 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230129005244/https://www.ole.com.ar/ecuador/independiente-del-valle/kendry-paez-juvenil-promocion-primer-equipo-rayados_0_9IGOiqKVjx.html. live.
8. Web site: Así fue el debut de Kendry Páez: mucha voluntad, valentía y golazo. This was the debut of Kendry Páez: a lot of will, courage and a great goal. 25 February 2023. 26 February 2023. ole.com.ar. Spanish. 26 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230226001022/https://www.ole.com.ar/ecuador/independiente-del-valle/kendry-paez-debut-independiente-del-valle-mushuc-runa_0_wJG4XhCssc.html. live.
9. Web site: Kendry Páez, la nueva perla de Sudamérica: 15 años, debut con gol y rumbo a Europa. Kendry Páez, the new pearl of South America: 15 years old, debut with a goal and heading to Europe. Patxo. De la Rica. 25 February 2023. 26 February 2023. relevo.com. Spanish. 26 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230226000340/https://www.relevo.com/futbol/liga-ecuador/kendry-paez-nueva-perla-sudamerica-20230225223821-nt.html. live.
10. Web site: Paez to join Chelsea . 2023-06-05 . www.chelseafc.com . en-gb . 2023-06-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605143829/https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/paez-to-join-chelsea . live .
11. Web site: Video de Kendry Páez, la nueva joya de Ecuador: un golazo a Argentina 'a lo Maradona' y mirado por los grandes de Europa. Video of Kendry Páez, the new jewel of Ecuador: a great goal against Argentina 'a la Maradona' and watched by the greats of Europe. 27 October 2022. 29 January 2023. ole.com.ar. Spanish. 29 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230129005245/https://www.ole.com.ar/ecuador/la-tri/kendry-paez-mini-tri-gol-maradona-argentina-clubes-europa_0_JkTTqya9xT.html. live.
12. Web site: Estos son los ecuatorianos que están en el extranjero y no fueron convocados para el Sudamericano Sub-20 Colombia 2023. These are the Ecuadorians who are abroad and were not called up for the South American Sub-20 Colombia 2023. 9 January 2023. 29 January 2023. eluniverso.com. Spanish. 23 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230123183547/https://www.eluniverso.com/deportes/futbol/estos-son-los-ecuatorianos-que-estan-en-el-extranjero-y-no-fueron-convocados-para-el-sudamericano-sub-20-colombia-2023-nota/. live.
13. Web site: ¡Kendry Páez lideró a La Tri Sub 17 en un debut que ilusiona!. Kendry Páez led La Tri Sub 17 in an exciting debut!. 31 March 2023. 31 March 2023. futbolecuador.com. Spanish. 31 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230331120532/https://www.futbolecuador.com/site/noticia/kendry-paez-lidero-a-la-tri-sub-17-en-un-debut-que-ilusiona/154118. live.
14. Web site: For Ecuadorian history-maker Kendry Paez age is no barrier. 1 June 2023. 13 September 2023. FIFA. 30 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230630154509/https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/for-ecuadorian-history-maker-kendry-paez-age-is-no-barrier. live.
15. LaTri. 1665814822691172353. Nuestros Ellos son los elegidos por el DT Félix Sánchez Bas para la doble fecha FIFA de Junio Tío @PilsenerEcuador a celebrar que regresa #LaTri #PiensaEnGrande. Our summoned players They are the ones chosen by DT Félix Sánchez Bas for the double FIFA date of June Uncle @PilsenerEcuador to celebrate the return of #LaTri #PiensaEnGrande.
16. Web site: Cons. Roddy. Ecuador and future Chelsea star Kendry Páez second only to Diego Maradona in South America. 13 September 2023. 13 September 2023. AS. 2 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231202215548/https://en.as.com/soccer/ecuador-and-future-chelsea-star-kendry-paez-second-only-to-diego-maradona-in-south-america-n/. live.
17. News: 2023-10-13 . Paez breaks record with Ecuador goal . 2024-04-27 . BBC . en . 2023-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022211418/https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c974x3gxnywo.amp . live .
18. News: 2023-10-13 . Why Chelsea wonderkid is still breaking records in Ecuador . 2024-04-27 . BBC Sport . en-GB . 2024-06-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240624211812/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67104574 . live .
19. Web site: Ecuador presenta lista oficial para la Copa América: Gonzalo Plata y Robert Arboleda quedaron relegados. Ecuador presents official roster for Copa America: Gonzalo Plata and Robert Arboleda left off the list. El Universo. 29 May 2024. es. 27 June 2024. 4 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240604184809/https://www.eluniverso.com/deportes/futbol/ecuador-presenta-lista-oficial-para-la-copa-america-gonzalo-plata-y-robert-arboleda-quedaron-relegados-nota/. live.
20. Web site: Booker . Adam . Kendry Páez makes Copa América history with penalty strike . Yahoo Sports . 27 June 2024 .
21. Web site: Kendry Páez es la nueva joya de Independiente del Valle. Kendry Páez is the new jewel of Independiente del Valle. 27 October 2022. 29 January 2023. lacancha.com.ec. Spanish. 29 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230129005244/https://lacancha.com.ec/2022/10/27/kendry-paez-es-la-nueva-joya-de-independiente-del-valle/. live.