A new trend in Chelsea's recruitment policy has emerged under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Their approach has been to identify young talents from all over the world and act quickly to reach agreements before other clubs have a chance to swoop in. And this has resulted in mixed results for the Blues.
In 2023, the Blues announced that they would seal the signing of Kendry Paez, then 16 years of age, in 2025. He arrived last summer and was loaned out to Strasbourg. Furthermore, Chelsea stated in 2024 that they would sign Estevao, who was then 17, from Palmeiras this year.
The 18-year-old Brazilian has taken European football by storm this season. He is already one of Chelsea's best players and is only expected to get better.
Now, Chelsea are reportedly set to sign centre-back Deinner Ordonez. According to Fabrizio Romano, an agreement was reached for the Ecuadorian defender. Independiente del Valle accepted all conditions. He will arrive in January 2028.
'Here we go' - Fabrizio Romano confirms Chelsea have agreed signing
Chelsea have a close relationship with the Ecuadorian club. They signed Paez from there. Moises Caicedo spent his youth career there before moving to Europe with Brighton and Hove Albion in 2021.
Ordonez is a centre-back making a name for himself for his exceptional speed, strength, and aerial abilities. Despite being only 16 years old, he is considered one of Independiente del Valle's top prospects. He has already represented Ecuador at U20 level.
Chelsea clearly see Ordonez as a long-term signing. Liverpool and Aston Villa were also reportedly vying for his signature. But the Blues acted quickly and reached an agreement that will see him join the West London club a couple of years down the line.
The decision to bring in Ordonez for 2028 aligns with the model of finding and nurturing talent early, allowing youngsters to develop in familiar situations before transitioning to European football. Enzo Maresca already has the youngest squad in the Premier League, and it appears this is the path Chelsea have chosen for themselves despite the lack of success in recent years.