Kendry Paez is giving Chelsea a glimpse into the future this week.
The 16-year-old Ecuadorian wonderkid will visit the club’s Cobham training ground before attending tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.
Paez cannot play for Chelsea until after his 18th birthday, in May, 2025, but there is much excitement about the youngster, who was signed for £17.2million from Independiente del Valle in June.
Paez has been likened to Argentina stars Lionel Messi or Angel Di Maria as a creative left-footed midfielder capable of playing as a winger. He predominantly lines up on the right of a midfield three for Independiente, but can play as a second striker.
The 5ft 9in playmaker beats his opponents through body feints, exquisite touches and consistent ball-striking ability, but what is most remarkable about Paez is his rapid rise.
Having just turned 15, he became the youngest debutant and goalscorer in the history of the Ecuadorian top division in February, while his two goals for Independiente's Under-18s in the 2022 Copa Milo Final started to earn him serious attention in European football circles. Scouts from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Borussia Dortmund were all in attendance and watched him star against Colombia's Atletico Nacional in the prestigious South American youth final.
Once on their radar, they saw Paez captain Ecuador to the final of the South American U-17 Championship this year and become the youngest-ever goalscorer at the U-20 World Cup.
Aged just 16 and 131 days, Paez made his senior debut for Ecuador against Uruguay in September. He got an assist on his debut and scored on his second appearance, against Bolivia, as he justified his selection in back-to-back 2-1 wins, becoming both the youngest Ecuador international and goalscorer in the process.
Paez was just days away from beating Diego Maradona's record as the youngest South American to play senior international football.
Chelsea had already secured Paez's future when those records tumbled and now have a player building on his six goals and three assists in 34 senior matches for club and country.
Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio says Paez can be better than Messi, but those close to him believe comparisons are unhelpful.
Paez told ESPN recently: "I'm Kendry, I'm going to give the name to Ecuador. I'm going to continue being me, I don't want to be compared to Messi.
"[Messi's] very special, he's the best. I'm 16 years old, they cannot compare me with him, because I'm in a process. I have things to improve and [need to] gain a lot of experience."
Paez is currently learning English and will return to Independiente for another 18 months before moving to London.
As the earliest he can play for the Blues is May 2025, his first competitive appearance could be in the newly expanded Club World Cup that summer.
His visit to the capital this week, though, will undoubtedly whet the appetite about what a talent he can become.
