As Chelsea enjoy the early rewards of signing Brazilian prodigy Estevão Willian, another of their highly rated young stars is making waves elsewhere in Europe. Kendry Páez, the Ecuadorian midfielder who joined the Blues amid similar excitement, is beginning to show his class on loan at Strasbourg.
The 17-year-old is spending the season in Ligue 1 as part of Chelsea’s long-term development plan, and his performances have already caught the attention of the French club’s hierarchy. Strasbourg officials are reportedly thrilled with Páez’s impact so far, seeing the arrangement as a continuation of their strong developmental partnership with Chelsea.
That same pathway helped Andrey Santos thrive during his 18-month spell at the club, where he grew into one of Strasbourg’s key players and even captained the side under Liam Rosenior before making the transition to West London. Páez now appears to be following in his footsteps.
Ligue 1 Recognition
After scoring his first goal for Strasbourg last month, Páez went on to enjoy an impressive September — form that has now earned him a nomination for Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Month award.
Kendry Páez's first Ligue 1 goal! 🕺 pic.twitter.com/XZnlWcBOma
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) September 21, 2025
He will compete for the honour against Kader Meïté and Tylel Tati, reflecting the growing recognition of his talent in France. When Páez found the net, he even celebrated by mimicking João Pedro’s trademark goal celebration, a nod to his South American flair and confidence on the pitch.
International Duty with Ecuador
Páez’s rise continues on the international stage as well. The teenager has been recalled to the Ecuador national team for their upcoming friendlies against Mexico and the USA.
While Moisés Caicedo will remain at Cobham during the international break, Páez will be representing his country — a significant step in his young career. Ecuador boss Sebastián Beccacece recently praised the midfielder’s work ethic, calling him “the hardest-working member of the squad” in recent training sessions.
This comes after a brief period of concern over the player’s attitude earlier in the year, suggesting that Páez has responded well to feedback and is now firmly back on track.
Chelsea Keeping a Close Eye
Chelsea are closely monitoring Páez’s progress, with club officials encouraged by both his development and improved discipline. They hope his trajectory at Strasbourg mirrors the early success of Estevão Willian, who has already started to make an impression at Stamford Bridge.
If Páez continues his upward momentum, he could soon join the growing list of young South American talents ready to make their mark in West London.
