Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Independiente del Valle teenage sensation Kendry Paez, the Ecuadorian club's general manager has revealed.
The Blues made their first move to acquire the 15-year-old in February following reports that Manchester United, Man City, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid were all linked.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed earlier this month that Paez was close to agreeing a move to Stamford Bridge in 2025, with him unable to make the switch to England until he is 18. Now, the £17.5million deal looks close to being agreed.
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Independiente del Valle's general manager, Santiago Morales, provided an update on the imminent move, confirming it's "practically arranged". "It is something that we have already been talking about on a few occasions, a few months ago," he told Studio Futbol - via METRO.
"There is a specific interest from Chelsea, it is practically arranged between the parties. Legally we are looking at what can be done, he is a 15-year-old boy, FIFA prohibits this type of negotiation. We are going to be fortunate enough to be able to enjoy him for at least two more years until he turns 18 and then he can go.
"You have to see the legal issue and obviously a transfer contract cannot be signed, maybe some agreement, and that is what Chelsea is finding out both with their league, with their federation and with FIFA to be able to direct this transfer that would be unprecedented in Ecuadorian football. We are sure that it will be the first of many more.
"I know that Kendry is going to be a great ambassador for all Ecuadorian players, I’m talking about all the players who have this chance to make the leap and at such a young age.
"You have to take advantage of these days and these tournaments that people attend to enjoy themselves because he really is a great player, a great boy."
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