Can Chelsea salvage Paez's career?

[Getty Images] Attacking midfielder Kendry Paez has finally pulled on a Chelsea shirt, three years after agreeing a move to Stamford Bridge - albeit for the club's under-21 side. Chelsea agreed a £17.27m deal to sign Paez from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in 2023 when he was 16, but his development has not progressed as quickly as many expected. Now 19, Paez made his first appearance in Chelsea colours for Cobham Next Gen, the club's newly-renamed Under-21 side, as a 12th-minute substitute in a 4-1 win away to Arsenal on Saturday. It comes after new manager Xabi Alonso said the midfielder was "not in my plans" and Chelsea listed him as an academy player on the club website. There was one reminder of Paez's quality in the dying moments of Cobham Next Gen's (Chelsea Under-21s) defeat at Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday. It was an outswinging cross from a short corner routine, which Harrison Bettoni tapped in during added time. He then put in another cross that caused havoc as Chelsea chased an equaliser in front of just 778 fans. It was a much-needed boost for Spanish-speaking Paez, who appeared to stand alone from the other academy players before kick-off. He did join in their warm-ups but mostly kept to himself before coming on in the 62nd minute. Ultimately Chelsea lost, while Paez was a peripheral figure playing as a right-sided number 10, like Cole Palmer, in a system that mirrored Alonso's back-three shape. That was until his flurry of activity late on. Although he is not Chelsea's youngest player, Paez has already made 70 appearances for Ecuadorian side Independiente and more than 100 senior matches in total. It is something he can fall back on in a more than salvageable situation. Chelsea have been encouraged by his attitude, having him back in the building at Cobham where he has trained in a stable and elite environment. There is stability around him as family attended his recent match at Wycombe. The Blues are also now able to monitor his development more closely, while academy matches are regularly attended by scouts from across the English Football League and beyond. There is optimism from those close to Paez that he can impress and gain a first loan move in England in January, or one of the six international loan spots will become available for him to go overseas again. It is more than possible he can rediscover the form that attracted Chelsea in the first place and fulfil the immense potential that made him one of South America's most coveted young talents. Read more