Young Chelsea star Kendry Paez heads to South America for crucial game time. His next loan destination offers a fresh start.
All the way back in June 2023, Chelsea confirmed the signing of Paez from Independiente del Valle, with the youngster remaining at the Ecuadorian side for two more seasons until he turned 18.
There was plenty of excitement for a player who had come through the same academy as star midfielder Moises Caicedo. Between the announcement of Paez and his arrival in West London, he had amassed 18 appearances for the Ecuador national team, including four starts at the 2024 Copa America in the USA.
Given the sheer number of attackers at Chelsea, a loan move was seen as the best option for his development. In the summer of 2025, he joined sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1, linking up with now Blues manager Liam Rosenior.
However, things have not gone as anyone would have wanted, and by late January, he had played only 730 minutes across all competitions for the French side, equivalent to just over eight full games.
As a result, it is clear that another loan move, with more opportunities to play regular first team football, is what was required to make sure this isn't a total waste of 12 months.
Well, that new club has been chosen, and it may not be who you would expect. Indeed not, as reports indicate that Paez is on his way back to South America, where he will join Argentine side River Plate, the former club of Enzo Fernández.
Interestingly, it has been reported as a "season long loan" as some of you may know, Argentine football runs on a calendar year basis, implying that Paez will be with River Plate for the entirety of 2026, and not just until the end of the 25/26 European football season.
With all due respect, a move back to South America is surely not what many had in mind when he joined up with the club last summer. It really has been a difficult time for his development.
Nevertheless, Argentine football is not of a terrible standard. The schedule over there is very intense, so there will be plenty of opportunities for him to get games, which is especially important ahead of the World Cup this summer, when Ecuador will be in action against Germany, Ivory Coast, and debutants Curaçao.
Let's hope this move goes a lot better than the move to Strasbourg did.
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