Confirmed: Chelsea sign youngest-ever goalscorer in history of Fifa U20 World Cup

With a statement on their official website, Chelsea have announced that the club has agreed a deal to sign teenage midfielder Kendry Paez from Independiente del Valle.

The 2007-born Ecuador underage international will complete his move to Stamford Bridge after his 18th birthday, meaning he will join the Blues in the summer of 2025.

Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United were interested in signing Paez but Chelsea have won the race for his signature. 

Independiente del Valle will receive a fee of around 20 million euros from the sale of the attacking midfielder. 

Paez shone at the 2023 Fifa U20 World Cup before Ecuador were eliminated in the round of 16 by South Korea. 

By scoring the first goal in Ecuador’s 9-0 win over Fiji, he set a World Cup record as the youngest-ever player to score in the Fifa U20 World Cup.

The 16-year-old also notched three assists for the Ecuadorians in games against Slovakia, Fiji and South Korea. 

He became the youngest scorer in the Ecuadorian top-flight when he found the net on his senior debut against Mushuc Runa SC in February and made his continental debut  in a 2-1 Copa Libertadores win over Corinthians at the start of May.

Igho Kingsley 

Photo Credit: fifa.com