Chelsea wants to continue signing Ecuadorian players, and now it has been revealed that a new tricolor player is of interest to the London giant. The club already has Moises Caicedo as one of its biggest stars and is now once again looking at the Ecuadorian market along with other Premier League teams.

According to information from Graeme Bailey, Chelsea is exploring a purchase option for Patrik Mercado. The young star from Independiente del Valle stayed in Ecuador this semester, but it is very likely he will change teams after the World Cup.

Chelsea is not the only club interested in the Ecuadorian player; other Premier League clubs are also seeking his signature. Teams like Brighton, Bournemouth, and Fulham are also monitoring the Ecuadorian player for a possible transfer.

Mercado is on the radar of several Premier League teams and Sevilla. The Spanish team was very close to signing him, but it was unable to free up spots for foreign players, and that is why it could not sign him in the January transfer window.

The coming weeks will be key for the future of the Ecuadorian jewel. Mercado, with regularity, will surely be on Beccacece's list to play in the 2026 World Cup. The coach has already called him up for the latest friendlies and also for the qualifying matches.

Mercado is one of the emerging figures at Independiente del Valle; he closed an outstanding 2025, establishing himself as a fundamental piece in the Ecuadorian club's system. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder played a total of 48 matches across all competitions, logging a total of 3,142 minutes on the field.

His offensive contribution was decisive, scoring 7 goals and providing 11 assists, especially in the LigaPro Serie A, where he contributed 4 goals and 8 assists.

Right now, Patrik Mercado has a market value of $5.5 million. Therefore, if the Ecuadorian leaves, he will do so with another multimillion-dollar sale. The Ecuadorian forward still has a contract with Independiente del Valle until 2027.

Chelsea has signed three Ecuadorian players in recent years. It secured the signings of Moises Caicedo, Kendry Paez, and Deinner Ordonez. All three Ecuadorian players belong to the club, and it is not ruled out that more will arrive for "La Tri."

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