Kendry Paez: From Humble Beginnings to Breaking Records in Football

The inspiring journey of Kendry Paez, whose story is a beacon of dedication, family support, and the pursuit of sporting excellence. Born to Jéssica Andrade and Ray Páez, Kendry’s early life in Ecuador is a testament to the role of upbringing and familial bonds in shaping future champions.

In essence, this memoir delves into the complete journey of Kendry Paez. It chronicles the tale of a young boy whose extraordinary football prowess was evident early on. Kendry shattered conventional expectations in the football world as a youngster.

It’s uncommon for someone as young as 8 or 9 to approach a club’s president seeking wages, an educational scholarship, and a house for his parents. But Kendry did, all because his talent was undeniable.

This article presents the tale of a young footballer who surpassed Pele‘s record at just 16 years old. Emerging from modest beginnings and enduring challenges, Páez remained steadfastly dedicated to his passion for football.

We’ll also highlights the pivotal role of Kendry’s mother, Jessica, who persevered, often taking multiple buses and enduring daily commutes of an hour and a half to get her son to training.

Alongside mentions of his rumored girlfriend Sulay Mora, this biography explores Kendry’s roots, culture, and the values instilled from a young age. We’ll delve into his lifestyle off the track, personal aspirations, and the achievements that mark him as Ecuador’s fast-rising athletic star.

Preamble:

We begin Kendry Paez’s Biography by telling you notable events of his boyhood years. Next, we’ll tells the early career story of the Ecuadorian gem.

Then, finally, we explain how the Guayaquil native achieved a meteoric rise in the beautiful game, a feat that earned him a Chelsea FC transfer.

We hope to whet your autobiography appetite as we engage you with reading Kendry Paez’s Biography.

To begin doing that, let’s present this photo gallery that tells his story – from the little boy of Alfaro Moreno to the Rising star of Ecuadorian soccer.

Yes, everyone knows the Ecuadorian is a fearless dribbler. It is a confirmed fact that Kendry Paez broke a long-standing international record set by the Legendary Pele. In case you didn’t know, he is the youngest assist maker in the history of South American football.

In our history of telling you the Ecuadorian Football Stories, we found a knowledge deficit in the midfield area.

The truth is, not many people have read an in-depth version of Kendry Paez’s Biography, which is super exciting. This is why we have created this article. Now, without further ado, let’s get started.

Kendry Paez Childhood Story:

For Biography starters, he bears the nickname “The Ecuadorian Endrick.” And his full names are; Ray Kendry Páez Andrade. The Ecuadorian was born on the 4th day of May 2007 to his Mother, Jéssica Andrade and Father, Ray Páez, in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The events of things that unfolded before Kendry’s birth are quite surprising. His mother, Jéssica, once stated that carrying him in her belly for the later part of the nine months was quite a pain. This is because Kendry Paez kicked her very hard. In Jéssica Andrade’s words;

Since he was inside me, I think he was already playing ball (laughs).

Although there is no online record suggesting that he has siblings, it seems that the Ecuadorian is the sole child of his Dad and Mum. Allow us to introduce you to Jéssica Andrade and Ray Páez, the proud parents of Kendry Paez.

Growing-Up Years:

Spending his childhood in Trinitaria Island and Durán, just a short distance from his birthplace in Guayaquil, Kendry Paez was deeply shaped by his surroundings. Although he cherishes memories of his upbringing, he also recalls the struggles his family endured.

Due to financial constraints, they lived far from his academy, Independiente del Valle. This meant that his mother, Jéssica Andrade, had to take multiple buses and travel an hour and a half almost daily for Kendry’s training sessions. The family’s sacrifices were immense, all in support of their budding football star.

Kendry Paez Early Life:

Even before his birth, the Boy’s affinity for football was evident, given the vigorous kicks in his mother’s womb. From his earliest days, Kendry’s undeniable talent was apparent to all, though few could predict its immense magnitude. Importantly, Kendry believes that his talent wasn’t merely innate; he inherited it from both his parents.

With an innate passion for soccer, Kendry Paez’s childhood was further enriched by his insatiable thirst for knowledge. This led him to study Lionel Messi’s playing style through videos. On the home front, while many might expect inspirations like Enner Valencia or Antonio Valencia, young Kendry’s biggest local Football Idol is the Ecuadorian player Gonzalo Plata.

Hailing from the same birthplace of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Kendry Paez looked up to the local soccer sensation, Gonzalo Plata, who is six years his senior and a star at Independiente del Valle. To hone his dribbling skills, young Kendry drew inspiration from both Lionel Messi and his local hero, Plata.

By the tender age of six, young Paez was already paving the way for his future in football. He joined the local academy, Huancavilca, in his hometown. While his path to greatness was paved with numerous sacrifices, we’ll delve deeper into his story as this memoir unfolds.

Kendry Paez Family Background:

The first thing to know about the Athlete’s household is that his Mum, Jéssica Andrade and Dad, Ray Páez, were Athletes in different sports. Now, let’s start with Kendry Paez’s Father. Research shows that he played baseball in his youth and still plays soccer at the amateur level. On the other hand, Kendry Paez’s Mum comes from a football family. Jéssica played the game a lot with her friends back then in school as well as with her family members.

Behind Kendry Paez’s huge popularity comes his parents (Jéssica and Ray), who prefer to be away from flashes and cameras. Jéssica, who is in her mid-30s (at the time of writing) is constantly worried that fame could blur her son’s focus if he is exposed to the media a lot. Speaking about her teenage son, Jéssica Andrade said;

“Kendry is still a child to me. Many things are coming to him all at once due to the exposure he has, and as a mother, I feel the importance of not leaving him alone in what he is experiencing,”

Kendry Paez Family Origin:

Jéssica Andrade and her husband, Ray both have Ecuador as their nationality and the same goes for their celebrity son, who is setting the football world on fire. Regarding the part of Ecuador Kendry Paez’s family identifies with, our findings point to Durán. As observed from the map below, this is a canton located (as seen below) in the province of Guayas, Ecuador.

Kendry Paez Ethnicity:

The Attacking Midfielder identifies with the Mestizo ethnic group, which represents the majority of his country’s population. When you look at Kendry Paez’s skin colour, you can tell that he is of mixed indigenous and European (mainly Spanish) ancestry. The likes of Moisés Caicedo and Pervis Estupiñán are Afro-Ecuadorians.

Kendry Paez Education:

The Midfielder attended his pre-primary schooling just before he began playing for his first club, Academia Alfaro Moreno. While the specific institution for his Basic Education (Educación Básica) remains undisclosed, it’s evident that Kendry Páez finished both his primary and high school while advancing in his youth football career.

At just 8 and 9 years old, discussions were underway with Barcelona Sporting Club, a prominent Ecuadorian sports establishment in Guayaquil, regarding Kendry’s education. As part of the negotiations for him to join the club, a proposal was put forth to provide him with unique benefits and specific support for his academic endeavours. Unfortunately, that transfer for the 8-year-old kid negotiation failed.

Kendry Paez Biography – Football Story:

The boy who broke one of Pele’s records at the age of 16 started his journey as early as age 5. Kendry Paez made the difference that early, and by age 5, his parents had enrolled him with the local academy, Huancavilca. It didn’t take long before Paez secured a transfer to Academia Alfaro Moreno.

In all the matches Kendry Paez participated in, he was always different from the rest of his teammates. His talent made him noticeable in some of the best and most competitive football academies in Ecuador. Kendry Paez’s parents wanted their son to progress further an face bigger competition. In no time, he was offered to Barcelona Sporting Club (an Ecuadorian-based football club) when he was aged eight.

At that time, Kendry Paez’s parent club, Academia Alfaro Moreno, wanted the best for the kid. The club understood the kind of talent they had in their possession, so they did not want to federate him for Barcelona SC.

By not doing that, it means Kendry Páez’s new club would offer him special treatment. Now, let’s tell you a bit about this special treatment given to this Boy whom people called the greatest promise of Ecuadorian football.

It means Kendry Paez’s new club would take care of him and his parents by making all the necessary provisions to ensure their comfort.

One of such demand was for Barcelona SC to initiate a three-year contract for the eight-year-old talent. It didn’t end there.

The club was to pay Kendry Paez’s Parents his son’s football wages, guarantee him proper education, and rent his Dad and Mum a house in the North of the city.

Kendry Paez Bio – The Path to Fame:

According to us, Barcelona S.C. did not realize that they were about to have a very huge talent at their football club. If they do, then they would have attended to all the demands and be celebrating years later that they made the right decision. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Barcelona Sporting Club refused to yield to the demands, hence refusing to sign Kendry Paez. The club felt it was too difficult to place an eight-year-old player under salary, see through his education and provide his parents with accommodation in the North of their city.

Truth be told here! If only the club had known the kind of player Kendry Paez would turn to years later, they wouldn’t have rejected the idea of having him. Moving on, the youngster joined Emelec, an Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil. After not playing regularly with the club, Kendry Paez moved to Patria, where he had more game time as a striker.

In that FIFA World Cup year of 2018, at the age of 12, the long wait to get to a big team was finally over. One of the biggest clubs in Ecuador accepted Kendry Páez into it’s roaster. The youngster joined Independiente del Valle, the football club behind the rise of Moisés Caicedo. Moisés Caicedo transferred to Independiente del Valle when he was just 13 years old.

Kendry Paez Biography – Success Story:

Jéssica Andrade, the Athlete’s Mum, witnessed the beginning of a chapter in the family from the time her son joined Independiente del Valle. It was a new chapter that saw her making lots of sacrifices for her darling son. When Kendry Paez joined the club, his family lived at the Trinitaria Island and Durán. The footballer and his Mum would always have to take at least two buses and travel for an hour and a half before Kendry could go for training.

As Kendry Paez turned into a teenager, he knew how to take care of himself without needing much help from his Mum. The youngster would travel 160 miles away from his family in the name of following his dreams and fighting for his big break.

In the final years of his Independiente del Valle youth career, Kendry Paez developed into a player who showed hunger, fearlessness, and the ambition to succeed. The youngster, on several occasions in the year 2023, showed an unbridled determination to reach the top and win these individual accolades.

While playing for Independiente’s U18s, Kendry Paez helped his team win the prestigious Copa Milo trophy. In the final of the competition, there were scouts from Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund who were all present to see Kendry.

Europe, indeed, observed that a Rising Starlet from Ecuador was indeed on his way to dominate football. For many football pundits, it is indeed not normal for a 15-year-old boy who just graduated from an academy to earn the respect of the football world in such a short time.

The Early Senior Debut and Chelsea Attack:

Before he got drafted into the Independiente del Valle senior team, 15-year-old Kendry Paez did wonders. He impressed at the 2022 Next Generation Trophy (an Elite U16 tournament in Salzburg, Austria). Thanks largely to Kendry’s efforts, his team reached the final, and the midfielder was named the player of the tournament.

Because he was that good, Paez got an instant promotion to the Independiente del Valle. His call-up to senior football (to be in the first team for the 2023 preseason) came when he was fifteen years old. On the 25th day of February 2023, Kendry Paez (to the joy of his parents) made his debut in Ecuador’s Serie A.

Did you know?…  Kendry Paez scored on his senior debut. He scored the third goal in a 3–1 victory over Mushuc Runa. By doing so, the Rising Star achieved two honours. Kendry became the youngest goalscorer and the youngest debutant in the Ecuadorian top flight.

His great performance caught the eyes of numerous Premier League top clubs, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and Man City. It was Todd Boehly’s Chelsea who won the race to sign him after placing a bid that favoured the youngster, his parent club and his family.

On the 5th day of June 2023, Chelsea agreed a deal to sign Kendry Paez. The media revealed that the midfielder would join the Blues after his 18th birthday, which would happen in the summer of 2025. The rest, as we say, is now history.

Kendry Paez Love Life:

The Ecuadorian midfielder became a promise in world football at the tender age of 16. A close relative of Kendry Paez (who asked that his identity should not be revealed) said that Kendry remains single and has not committed himself to anyone.

However, some revelations, according to the Ecuadorian website Extra EC, say otherwise. The gossip platform, on July 19 2023, revealed that Sulay Mora, an 18-year-old model, is Kendry Paez’s Girlfriend.

According to an interview with Expressions, Diario Expreso magazine, Sulay Mora will represent Ecuador in the Miss Teen Americas. This is a beauty pageant that will take place in El Salvador from July 23rd to 30th of 2023.

Speaking about how she met Kendry Paez, Mora said,

“We met some time ago, and I love the way he is. A mutual friend gave him my number. He wrote to me, we talked, and that’s how our relationship began.

It doesn’t matter what profession Kendry practices. The important thing is that we are willing to help and support each other.”

Following this development, an Ecuadorian newspaper, Diaro EXTRA, reached out to one of Kendry Paez’s family members. They ask about what is known about model Sulay’s claims of dating the footballer.

This family member assured that Kendry’s steering wheel is supervised at all times by his father, Ray Páez. He is a diligent Dad who takes care of his son and ensures people don’t take advantage of the fame Kendry has earned. In the end, it was believed that Kendry would surely have some questions to answer from his Dad, who would seek the truth.

Personal Life:

Who is Kendry Paez?

To start with, the Ecuadorian midfielder is someone who is very down-to-earth in all his ways. Kendry feels comfortable in his own style, and he loves to find himself in the right places and not get into trouble. His personal activities, at the time of writing, are centred heavily on his career growth.

Kendry Paez Lifestyle:

When he isn’t practising, the young talent often spends time with his fellow skaters. However, Kendy is deeply passionate about his career, often prioritizing it over other leisurely pursuits. His parents have instilled in him a sense of humility, leading him to aspire to a modest lifestyle. He isn’t attracted to the allure of luxury cars or opulent homes. Instead, this Ecuadorian hopes to gain recognition solely for his on-pitch accomplishments.

Kendry Paez Family Life:

His parents, particularly his father, Ray Páez, are known to have instilled the values of groundedness and humility in him. Now, let’s tell you more about Ray and his Wife, Jéssica, persons who have ensured that their son lives a more modest and focused life.

About Kendry Paez Father:

Ray Páez, owing to his son’s football career, has gained considerable insights into football management, especially given the company he keeps. Notably, Kendry Paez’s father frequently associates with Walter Tenorio, renowned as one of Ecuador’s top soccer scouts. Seen in the picture on the left, Walter serves as the field scout for Independent del Valle, specializing in national-level talent scouting.

When he’s not mingling with the stalwarts of Ecuadorian soccer, Ray Páez cherishes moments with his son. Here, the Ecuadorian Jewel and his Dad visited the stadium to watch a game between Canaries and Orientales. During the broadcast of the match, the cameras focused more on the duo, Ray and his celebrity son.

About Kendry Paez Mother:

Jéssica is in her mid-30s (35 years old) at the time of writing (September 2023). This implies that she gave birth to her celebrity son, Kendry when she was still a teenager (between 18 to 19 years). Jéssica has revealed generally that she does not lose communication with her son, stating that they talk every day. In her words,

We talk every day. Kendry calls me, or I call him, but we always talk. He tells me everything about his daily life. There is nothing he can hide from me (laughs).

The truth is, everything that Páez experiences in his life comes to him suddenly. In previous years, Kendry and Jéssica could go out calmly to eat at a shopping centre, and nothing would happen. These days, that is not the same as fans often asking for an autograph or photo.

In addition to always having personal and career conversations with his son, Jéssica once highlighted her new role. She keeps an eye on everything that comes through as regards Kendry’s social networks. For Jéssica, it is important to know who her son talks to and goes out with. Paez’s Mother sees that many female fans follow her son, and she gets worried. Fortunately, her celebrity son tells her everything she needs to know about his private life.

About Kendry Paez Relatives:

Our research indicates that the Ecuadorian backing for Kendry Paez extends beyond just his parents to include members of his extended family. This includes his grandmother and uncle, both of whom can be seen in the images below. Following an Independiente del Valle game, Kendry was photographed with his mother, Jéssica Andrade, grandmother, and uncle.

Untold Facts:

In the final section of Kendry Paez’s Biography, we’ll unveil truths you might not know about him. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Kendry Paez FIFA:

At the age of 16, the Guayaquil native is known to lack just five things in football (below the 50% average) on FIFA. They are as follows: FK Accuracy, Finishing, Heading Accuracy, Penalties and Volleys. Kendry excels best in terms of his movement, Power and Skills. He has attributes that are close to players like Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer. Let’s not forget the Norwegian Oscar Bobb.

Kendry Paez Salary:

As per SOFIFA, the footballer received a modest €500 per week upon graduating from Independiente del Valle academy. However, when Kendry moves to Chelsea in the summer of 2025, he is expected to receive a starting salary of £45,000 per week. This rate aligns with the initial salaries of young talents like Lesley Ugochukwu, Belgian Romeo Lavia, and Malo Gusto when they joined Chelsea. Below is a breakdown of Kendry’s projected earnings based on the £45k weekly wage.

How rich would the Baller be when he joins Chelsea?

Where Kendry Paez’s family comes from, the average monthly salary of a person living in Ecuador (across all industries) is approximately 1,370 USD per month. Do you know?… Such a person would need 174 years to make £2,343,600 or $2,868,332. This is Kendry’s anticipated annual salary with Chelsea.

Kendry Paez Religion:

Ecuadorian professional footballer is a Roman Catholic, and he joins over 70-80% of his country’s population who identify with this religion. Paez’s country of origin (Ecuador) has cultural ties with Spain, and that has played a pivotal role in establishing Roman Catholicism as the predominant religion in Ecuador.

EndNote:

Kendry arrived in the world on the 4th day of May 2007. He was born a Taurus alongside notable footballers like Lewis Miley and Johan Bakayoko. The footballer was born to Jéssica Andrade, his Mother, and Ray Páez, his Father. The Ecuadorian starlet spent his early years at Trinitaria Island and Durán, in Guayaquil (his birthplace), Ecuador.

Páez’s football talent came to him naturally and quite early. At age five, he began to lay the foundation of his career after he started playing for Huancavilca Academy. Kendry’s talent made him noticeable after he moved on and joined Alfaro Moreno.

During his training process at 8 and 9 years old, the Alfaro Moreno talent saw an interest in him from Barcelona SC. The club was told they were about to get a rare gem. Also, the club was told to offer special treatment for the boy. Unfortunately, Kendry Paez’s parents’ wishes didn’t go as planned.

Barcelona SC refused to offer a three-year contract for the talent. Also, he needs remuneration, an education, and the ability to rent a house for his parents. After getting a rejection from the club’s President, Kendry Paez moved on, and his parents approved him joining another academy.

Life after Barcelona SC:

Independiente del Valle, the club that approved Moise Caicedo’s sale to Brighton, signed Kendry. The youngster and his family had some challenges regarding transportation at an early age. Kendry Paez would join his mother, Jéssica Andrade, and they would both take a lengthy one-and-a-half hour to commute. She took multiple buses to get her son, little Kendry, to the training venue.

The new jewel of Ecuadorian soccer maintained his meteoric rise even as a pro. Such a feat earned him a transfer to Chelsea in June of 2023. Like Diego Maradona, Kendry made his first international appearance at 16. He also broke Pele’s record as the youngest player to make an assist in a South American game.

Appreciation Note:

Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Kendry Paez’s Biography. We care about accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver the Ecuadorian Football Stories. Paez’s Story is part of our wider collection of South American Football Stories.

Kindly reach out to us via comment if you find anything that doesn’t look right in this memoir about the fast-rising Ecuador talent. He has made fans believe that Chelsea’s transfer decision to sign him is 100% after what he did to Manuel Ugarte in September 2023.

Aside from Kendry Paez’s Bio, we’ve got other interesting football stories from South America and Ecuador for your pleasure. From the Ecuadorian viewpoint, you’ll enjoy reading our article on Leonardo Campana and  Pervis Estupinan. From a South American viewpoint, the story of Vitor Roque and Endrick Felipe should excite you