Kendry Páez: Ecuador’s Golden Boy begins his European adventure at Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg Alsace have landed one of world football’s most exciting young prospects. Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Páez arrives in Alsace on a season-long loan from Chelsea. He has now made a promising first two appearances for Les Alsatiens during wins over FC Metz as well as Nantes in Ligue 1 McDonald's, but the feeling is that his ceiling is immeasurably higher.
Born in Isla Trinitaria, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Ecuador’s second city Guayaquil, Páez’s origin story is rooted in hardship. His parents often struggled to make ends meet, and his family would often talk of Kendry going to school hungry. Football gave Kendry structure, but also an escape. “We didn’t have much,” he recalled in past interviews. “But with the ball, I could forget everything.”
His first inspiration was his mother, Jessica, who was a talented footballer in her own right. By age five, Páez was training at a local academy, before spells at Emelec and a small amateur side called Hooligans FC. The wiry left-footer soon stood out for his balance and flair, earning the nickname “Di María” among his peers for his resemblance to the Argentine winger.
At 10 Páez joined historic club Patria, but it was Independiente del Valle’s famed academy that would shape his career. The Quito-based club was previously renowned for producing stars such as Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié and they invested heavily in Paez to bring him to their high performance centre at just 12-years-old.
A meteoric rise to Stardom in Ecuador
There, his talent was undeniable. Even against older boys, Páez displayed maturity on the ball, an eye for the killer pass, and the cheeky confidence that would define his rise. Coaches recall him constantly pestering first-team boss Martín Anselmi for promotion: “I’ll be your No.10 — and captain.”
By 15, he had won Player of the Tournament at the prestigious Red Bull Next Gen Trophy in Austria. By 16, he was starring in the Copa Mitad del Mundo, scoring twice in the final. That same year, he was called into the senior squad.
His debut for Independiente, in February 2023, was the stuff of fairy tales: starting at 15 years and 11 months, Páez scored in his very first Ecuadorian Serie A appearance. That breakthrough year became a blur. Páez starred for Ecuador at the South American U17 Championship, scoring twice and registering six assists.
In September, he went one better. Selected for Ecuador’s senior national team in World Cup qualifying, he became the youngest player ever to score in CONMEBOL qualifying history, netting against Bolivia aged just 16 years and 161 days. The world took notice.
Within months, Chelsea had struck a deal worth around €10m to secure his signature. Páez, though, would have to wait until his 18th birthday to leave Ecuador due to FIFA regulations.
Páez is not a winger in the classic Ecuadorian mould, nor a pure No.10. He is something in between: a left-footed creator who drifts into dangerous spaces, glides past challenges, and always looks to unpick defences. He has drawn stylistic comparisons with James Rodríguez, but his daring one-on-one ability is more reminiscent of Neymar’s early years.
He plays with joy — a throwback to the streets where his dribbling was first honed — but also with a fearlessness unusual for his age. “The bigger the challenge, the better he gets,” said Martín Anselmi in a recent interview with The Athletic.
WATCH: Kendry Páez's first steps for Strasbourg
Páez finally lands in Europe: Strasbourg the launchpad
Now, at last, Páez is in Europe and Ligue 1 McDonald's. The move follows a familiar path: Andrey Santos spent last season on loan at Racing, thriving under the intensity of Ligue 1 and returning to Chelsea as a more complete midfielder. Páez will be expected to do the same — to learn, adapt, and to show what he has got in France.
The challenge will be as much physical as tactical. At 1m75, still slight of frame, Páez will be tested by the robustness of Ligue 1 McDonald’s, one of the most physical leagues in Europe. But the opportunity is immense: a passionate fanbase at the Stade de la Meinau, a coach in Liam Rosenior who values technical players.
At every stage so far, Páez has risen quicker than expected — debut at 15, international goal at 16, Europe at 18. Strasbourg is another step, but perhaps the most crucial: the transition from promise to performance, from prodigy to professional.
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