Chelsea Pre-Agree Deal to Sign Deinner Ordonez From Independiente del Valle

Chelsea have reached a pre-agreement to sign young Ecuadorian defender Deinner Ordonez from Independiente del Valle, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.

The club have snapped up another promising wonderkid as they continue to pursue the best talents in world football, and the 16-year-old will officially move to Stamford Bridge in January 2028, as first reported by Fabrizio Romano. He has put pen to paper on a long-term contract.

Fresh from splashing out over £250million during the summer transfer window, the Blues’ quest to stockpile teenage prodigies rolls on at pace. Their project is centred around buying in-demand whizzkids on lucrative deals spread out over several years and has resulted in the Premier League’s youngest-ever squad.

Ordonez will be the latest to arrive after terms were reached with his club, with whom Chelsea hold an excellent relationship. Moises Caicedo previously progressed through their ranks before joining Brighton in February 2021, while Kendry Paez completed a move to the Blues from the same club this summer.

Chelsea Beat Competition to Agree Ordonez Deal

His arrival has been delayed because FIFA rules prohibit clubs from signing foreign players until they have turned 18, which he will do on October 29, 2027.

According to various reports, Chelsea fended off fierce competition from three major clubs in Europe to secure Ordonez’s coveted signature. Premier League champions Liverpool were even said to have been among them, but it is Maresca’s outfit who have formally won the race.

Ordonez is a central defender by trade, and he caught the attention of high-profile scouts after a number of eye-catching performances. He is particularly renowned for his pace, strength and heading ability. Incredibly, he was promoted to Independiente del Valle’s Under-17 set-up at the age of just 14.

While he is yet to make his senior bow for the club, figures at Stamford Bridge were impressed enough to tie him down for the long term.

Aged 15, Ordonez was called up to Ecuador’s Under-20s for the South American U-20 Championship at the start of 2025, and he became his country’s youngest-ever player at the tournament after starting the opening game against Bolivia.

Scouts have spoken glowingly of him, reportedly describing him as the best player of his age group on the continent.

The deal is also in line with Chelsea’s desire to invest in the standout talents from South America, having brought in Estevao Willian, Andrey Santos and Angelo Gabriel in recent years. They are certainly reaping the rewards of their gamble on Estevao, who has already scored four goals in his debut campaign in England.