REVEALED: Why Chelsea Wonderkid Kendry Paez Can’t Play at Club World Cup – Despite Being in the USA With the Team

Chelsea fans hoping to catch a glimpse of teenage sensation Kendry Paez at the FIFA Club World Cup will have to be patient a little while longer. Despite travelling to the United States with the squad, the 17-year-old Ecuadorian is not eligible to play in the tournament.

The Club World Cup officially got underway last night with a dull 0-0 draw between Inter Miami and Al Ahly. Chelsea are yet to kick off their campaign – they’ll be in action tomorrow night – but there’s already been plenty of discussion around who’s in and who’s out of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the competition.

And one of the most talked-about names has been Paez – or more precisely, his absence from the official match squad.

So Why Can’t Paez Play?

It’s simple: Kendry Paez is too young to be officially registered as a Chelsea player. FIFA rules state that players under the age of 18 cannot be transferred internationally unless they meet very specific exceptions. While Chelsea signed Paez last year, he can’t officially play for the club until he turns 18, which won’t happen until May 2025.

So, even though he’s now training with the senior squad in the US and part of the travelling party for the Club World Cup, he hasn’t been added to the competition’s squad list – and therefore won’t be playing any minutes.

This is not a surprise inside the club. Chelsea knew he wouldn’t be eligible and have brought him along mainly so he can train with the first team, get used to the environment, and show new head coach Maresca what he’s capable of behind the scenes.

There have been some rumours that Paez expected to be named in the squad and was disappointed when he found out he wouldn’t be playing. However, this has not been officially confirmed by the club or Paez’s representatives.

What’s certain is that the youngster is taking part in training sessions and soaking up experience at the top level – a smart move by Chelsea as they prepare him for a long future at the club.

After the Club World Cup ends, Paez is expected to go out on loan, with Chelsea’s sister club RC Strasbourg the likely destination. The French side, part of the BlueCo group that owns Chelsea, is seen as the perfect place for the teenager to get minutes and continue his development before he can finally wear the blue shirt in an official game.

While Paez has to wait for his debut, Chelsea fans will be watching Estevão Willian, another South American wonderkid who is eligible to feature. The 17-year-old Brazilian has created plenty of excitement among the fanbase, and many hope he’ll get some minutes in the tournament.