Chelsea’s preparations for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with Liverpool will involve Kendry Paez, the 16-year-old wonderkid who has flown in from Ecuador to train with Mauricio Pochettino’s team this week.
Club insiders have confirmed that Paez, who will sign for Chelsea in a £17.2million move once he turns 18 in May 2025, is in London ahead of their Wembley Stadium showdown.
In October, he became the youngest-ever South American to score in a World Cup qualifier – a goal assisted by Moises Caicedo, who he will train alongside this week.
This visit to Cobham is one of a series planned by Chelsea ahead of his permanent move in the hope of helping him settle in.
It comes with the blessing of his current club Independiente del Valle, who are not due to play until March when the next Ecuadorian Serie A season gets going.
Chelsea have planned a series of visits for Kendry Paez ahead of his £17m move in 2025
Teenager watched Chelsea’s Carabao Cup quarter final victory over Newcastle in December
He is already the youngest goalscorer in that competition after netting on his debut for Independiente at the age of 15 and as a left-footed midfielder-winger, Paez has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City and several other European clubs scouted him extensively before Chelsea secured his signature, with Paez continuing to learn English ahead of his arrival.
It is not known whether he will attend the Carabao Cup final at Wembley as Chelsea look to clinch their first trophy under Todd Boehly or if he will need to return to Independiente by then.
Paez previously attended the quarter-final against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge after meeting Pochettino for the first time – though the manager’s current contract is due to expire before the teenager arrives unless his one-year extension is triggered.
Following their 1-1 draw at Manchester City, Chelsea’s players have now returned to Cobham to prepare for the challenge of Liverpool. As well as securing silverware, winning would guarantee them European football as the winners of the Carabao Cup can earn a place in next season’s Europa Conference League.