Kendry PĂĄez
![]() PĂĄez with Ecuador U17 in 2023 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ray Kendry PĂĄez Andrade[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 4 May 2007||
Place of birth | Guayaquil, Ecuador[2] | ||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Independiente del Valle | ||
Number | 55 | ||
Youth career | |||
2012â2015 | Academia Alfaro Moreno | ||
2015â2016 | Emelec | ||
2016â2017 | Patria | ||
2018â2023 | Independiente del Valle | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023â | Independiente del Valle | 51 | (12) |
International career⥠| |||
2022â2023 | Ecuador U17 | 13 | (5) |
2023â | Ecuador U20 | 4 | (1) |
2023â | Ecuador | 17 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:55, 1 March 2025 (UTC) ⥠National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:27, 14 November 2024 (UTC) |
Ray Kendry PĂĄez Andrade (born 4 May 2007) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ecuadorian Serie A club Independiente del Valle and the Ecuador national team
Club career
Early career
Born in Guayaquil, PĂĄez began his career with local side Barcelona's youth department Academia Alfaro Moreno at the age of five. Barcelona SC was offered the chance to register PĂĄez at the age of eight, but the club did not sign him as it was "too hard for a president to pay for a player at this age".[3] He later had a short stint at Emelec before moving to Patria, where he started to feature more regularly as a forward.[4]
Independiente del Valle
PĂĄez joined Independiente del Valle in 2018, aged 12. His performances for their youth team, including being named most outstanding player at the 2022 Next Generation Trophy in Salzburg, Austria, drew the attention of multiple clubs across Europe.[5][6] He reportedly attracted interest from German club Borussia Dortmund,[7] while English side Manchester United had an opening bid for PĂĄez rejected in December 2022.[8]
He was promoted to the Independiente del Valle's first team for the 2023 pre-season, at the age of fifteen.[8] On 25 February 2023, he marked his highly anticipated professional debut with a goal; the third in a 3â1 Ecuadorian Serie A win over Mushuc Runa. Having received a lifted cut-back on the right-hand side of the penalty area from Anthony LandĂĄzuri, he instinctively floated the ball over the goalkeeper, Jorge Pinos, on the volley into the far corner of the goal.[9] In doing so, he became the youngest debutant, and youngest goal-scorer, in the Ecuadorian top flight.[10]
Chelsea
On 5 June 2023, it was announced that PĂĄez would join Premier League club Chelsea after his 18th birthday, in the summer of 2025.[11]
International career
Youth
Paéz has represented Ecuador at under-17 level, scoring against both Argentina and Colombia.[8][12] He was left out of Ecuador's under-20 squad for the 2023 South American U-20 Championship to facilitate his transition into the Independiente del Valle first team squad.[13]
He was called up to the Ecuador under-17 squad again for the 2023 South American U-17 Championship in March 2023. In their first game, he provided an assist for Ecuador's second goal in their 2â2 comeback draw with Brazil - a through-ball from his own half which was then converted by teammate Geremy de JesĂșs.[14] PĂĄez was included in Ecuador's squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina; he was the youngest player to be included in the final squad of any of the participating nations in the tournament. On 26 May, PĂĄez scored a goal in Ecuador's 9â0 win over Fiji, becoming the youngest player to score in the FIFA U20 World Cup.[15]
Senior
On 5 June 2023, PĂĄez was called up to the Ecuador senior squad for the first time.[16]
On 12 September 2023, PĂĄez made his debut with the senior team, starting in a 2â1 World Cup qualifier win over Uruguay and providing the assist for FĂ©lix Torres' match winning goal. Thus, he became the youngest player ever to represent La Tri and the second youngest South American to ever play international football behind Diego Maradona.[17] On 12 October, he scored his first goal for Ecuador in a 2â1 win over Bolivia, becoming the youngest ever goalscorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers at the age of 16 years and 161 days.[18][19]
On 29 May 2024, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa AmĂ©rica.[20] On 26 June, he scored a penalty in a 3â1 victory against Jamaica, becoming the second youngest scorer in the competition, aged 17 years and 53 days, following Johnnier Montaño.[21]
Style of play
Described as a fearless dribbler, Paéz took inspiration from fellow Ecuadorian Gonzalo Plata and Argentine Lionel Messi, both of whom he watched as a child, to improve his own dribbling ability.[22]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 1 January 2025[23]
Club | Season | League | Copa Ecuador | Continental | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Independiente del Valle | 2023 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 24 | 5 | â | 5[a] | 0 | 29 | 5 | |
2024 | 27 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 8[b] | 1 | 41 | 8 | ||
Career total | 51 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 70 | 13 |
- ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores
- ^ Six appearances and one goal in Copa Libertadores, two appearances in Copa Sudamericana
International
- As of match played 14 November 2024[24]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Ecuador | 2023 | 5 | 1 |
2024 | 12 | 1 | |
Total | 17 | 2 |
Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 October 2023 | Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia | ![]() |
1â0 | 2â1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
2 | 26 June 2024 | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, United States | ![]() |
2â0 | 3â1 | 2024 Copa AmĂ©rica |
Honours
Independiente del Valle
References
- ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023âą SQUAD LIST: Ecuador (ECU)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ Kendry PĂĄez at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Revelan el motivo por el cual Barcelona SC no fichĂł a Kendry PĂĄez" [Revealed the reason why Barcelona SC did not sign Kendry PĂĄez] (in Spanish). El VAR. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Kendry PĂĄez pasĂł por Barcelona y Emelec antes de llegar a Independiente del Valle" [Kendry PĂĄez represented Barcelona and Emelec before arriving at Independiente del Valle] (in Spanish). El Comercio. 2 March 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ Ălvarez, Paulo (16 January 2023). "Kendry PaĂ©z, promesa tricolor, es buscado desde Europa" [Kendry PaĂ©z, tricolor promise, is wanted from Europe]. benditofutbol.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Kendry Påez, la joya guayaquileña de 15 años que brilla en las formativas de Independiente del Valle y que interesa a clubes importantes de Europa" [Kendry Påez, the 15-year-old jewel from Guayaquil who shines in the training sessions of Independiente del Valle and who interests important clubs in Europe]. eluniverso.com (in Spanish). 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Exclusivo: el club europeo que ya hablĂł con IDV para fichar a Kendry PĂĄez" [Exclusive: the European club that already spoke with IDV to sign Kendry PĂĄez]. ole.com.ar (in Spanish). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "La importante decisiĂłn que tomĂł IDV con Kendry PĂĄez" [The important decision that IDV made with Kendry PĂĄez]. ole.com.ar (in Spanish). 15 December 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "AsĂ fue el debut de Kendry PĂĄez: mucha voluntad, valentĂa y golazo" [This was the debut of Kendry PĂĄez: a lot of will, courage and a great goal]. ole.com.ar (in Spanish). 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ De la Rica, Patxo (25 February 2023). "Kendry Påez, la nueva perla de Sudamérica: 15 años, debut con gol y rumbo a Europa" [Kendry Påez, the new pearl of South America: 15 years old, debut with a goal and heading to Europe]. relevo.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Paez to join Chelsea". www.chelseafc.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ "Video de Kendry PĂĄez, la nueva joya de Ecuador: un golazo a Argentina 'a lo Maradona' y mirado por los grandes de Europa" [Video of Kendry PĂĄez, the new jewel of Ecuador: a great goal against Argentina 'a la Maradona' and watched by the greats of Europe]. ole.com.ar (in Spanish). 27 October 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Estos son los ecuatorianos que estĂĄn en el extranjero y no fueron convocados para el Sudamericano Sub-20 Colombia 2023" [These are the Ecuadorians who are abroad and were not called up for the South American Sub-20 Colombia 2023]. eluniverso.com (in Spanish). 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "ÂĄKendry PĂĄez liderĂł a La Tri Sub 17 en un debut que ilusiona!" [Kendry PĂĄez led La Tri Sub 17 in an exciting debut!]. futbolecuador.com (in Spanish). 31 March 2023. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "For Ecuadorian history-maker Kendry Paez age is no barrier". FIFA. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ @LaTri (June 5, 2023). "Nuestros đ°đŒđ»đđŒđ°đźđ±đŒđ đ„ đ«Ą Ellos son los elegidos por el DT FĂ©lix SĂĄnchez Bas para la doble fecha FIFA de Junio đȘ TĂo @PilsenerEcuador a celebrar que regresa #LaTri #PiensaEnGrandeđȘđš" [Our summoned players đ„ đ«Ą They are the ones chosen by DT FĂ©lix SĂĄnchez Bas for the double FIFA date of June đȘ Uncle @PilsenerEcuador to celebrate the return of #LaTri #PiensaEnGrandeđȘđš] (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Cons, Roddy (13 September 2023). "Ecuador and future Chelsea star Kendry PĂĄez second only to Diego Maradona in South America". AS. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Paez breaks record with Ecuador goal". BBC. 2023-10-13. Archived from the original on 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ "Why Chelsea wonderkid is still breaking records in Ecuador". BBC Sport. 2023-10-13. Archived from the original on 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ "Ecuador presenta lista oficial para la Copa América: Gonzalo Plata y Robert Arboleda quedaron relegados" [Ecuador presents official roster for Copa America: Gonzalo Plata and Robert Arboleda left off the list] (in Spanish). El Universo. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Booker, Adam (27 June 2024). "đ¶ Kendry PĂĄez makes Copa AmĂ©rica history with penalty strike". Yahoo Sports.
- ^ "Kendry PĂĄez es la nueva joya de Independiente del Valle" [Kendry PĂĄez is the new jewel of Independiente del Valle]. lacancha.com.ec (in Spanish). 27 October 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Kendry PĂĄez at Soccerway
- ^ Kendry PĂĄez at National-Football-Teams.com
External links
- Kendry chongo paez at Soccerway.com
- Kendry chongo paez at WorldFootball.net
- Kendry chongo paez at National-Football-Teams.com
- Kendry chongo paez at kicker (in German)
- Kendry chongo paez at FBref.com