Chelsea: Mauricio Pochettino issues verdict on Kendry Paez ahead of meeting | OneFootball

Mauricio Pochettino says he is excited to meet Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Paez, who is due to visit Chelsea this week and be at Stamford Bridge for the first time on Tuesday night.

Chelsea beat competition from clubs including Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund to sign the 16-year-old forward on a pre-contract deal for £17.2million in June.

Paez is unable to join Chelsea until after his 18th birthday in May 2025 and will remain at his club Independiente del Valle in Ecuador.

But he is in London this week and will be in the stands when Chelsea play Newcastle in their Carabao Cup quarter-final.

Kendry Paez

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Paez made his senior debut for Ecuador earlier this year and Pochettino says is excited to meet the teenager, who he has been watching closely for some time.

“Of course, I know him," said Pochettino. “He is playing in the Ecuador national team. He was the youngest to make his debut. I follow the national teams, I follow them in South America, he is our player and I know him very well. He is a great talent.”

Pochettino joked this week he will need to extend his contract after Chelsea were confirmed to participate in the newly expanded Club World Cup in 2025.

His current deal runs until 2025 and he joked again he would need to sign an extension to work with Paez, adding. “As I said for the [Club] World Cup. I have a long wait until I see him here!”