CHELSEA have agreed to send Ecuadorean wonderkid Kendry Paez on season-long loan to River Plate.
The Blues have recalled Paez from his loan at sister club Strasbourg, and he will now travel to Buenos Aires for medical tests.
The 18-year-old starlet has made just one appearance as a 90th minute substitute since Gary O’Neil took over as boss in France.
But his season overall has been underwhelming, for a player who was rated similarly to Estevao before he joined.
He cost the Blues £17.2m from Independiente Del Valle when he was just 16, and stayed in his native Ecuador until he moved to Stamford Bridge when he turned 18.
Paez is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Blues.
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In October 2024 he was warned by his national team head coach over his off-the-field antics after being caught partying in a nightclub.
Though he seemed to fix up quickly, with the boss singing his praises in following games, and the midfielder shining for his national team alongside Moises Caicedo.
After being loaned to Strasbourg for this season, there have been no such issues with his attitude under now-Blues boss Liam Rosenior.
He was nominated for Ligue 1 Young Player of the Month in September, after scoring his first goal for the club.
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After that, though, his season capitulated, and he was used fairly sparingly by Rosenior.
His time in Ligue 1 has now ended with just one goal to his name and no assists in 15 appearances.
He was linked with moves to the EFL, including to Ipswich Town and to Birmingham City, before returning to South America.
Come the start of next season, he will find himself managed by Rosenior once more, unless he is re-loaned out, and will be joined by Emanuel Emegha, Mamadou Sarr, Andrey Santos and Mike Penders as players who have represented both sides.
Strasbourg will be left to find a new goalkeeper, centre-back and striker to fill the roles of three of their most important players once again – but with Joaquin Panichelli on fire, they’re already on their way to doing so.
