20 Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle)
Breaking into the top 20 is the first of the South American talents on this list in Kendry Paez of Ecuador. The Blues paid £17m to sign Paez in 2023 when he was just 16 years old in an eyebrow-raising move considering the club would have to wait two years for him to cross the Atlantic.
Paez has spent the last two years establishing himself at his current club Independiente del Valle and has been one of their best players. He already has 64 appearances for the Ecuadorian club and has 13 goals and 6 assists from his attacking midfield role.
The youngster has also become a full international for Ecuador since 2024 and has already made 17 appearances for his country. He was in the squad for the Copa America in 2024 and was among the best young players at the tournament, helping Ecuador finish second in their group and advancing to the knockouts before losing to eventual champs Argentina.