Chelsea agree deal to sign Ecuadorian prospect Paez

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign teenage midfielder Kendry Paez from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle.

The 16-year-old will join Chelsea after his 18th birthday and the Blues will pay around £17m for him.

He made his senior debut this year and captained Ecuador at the Under-17 Copa America.

Paez was previously named as the top talent at the 2022 Next Generation Trophy – a youth tournament in Austria involving clubs around the worth.