Updated: 18 Jul 2026 14:10 BST |
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Kendry Paez will return to Chelsea after his disappointing spell at River Plate, marking the premature end of a second consecutive loan.
The Ecuador international was one of the first acquisitions of the new-look, youth-focused Chelsea. In 2023, a deal was agreed for the then-16-year-old to move to Stamford Bridge two years later.
Paez had become the face not only of his club Independiente del Valle but even of his country. Regarded as one of the biggest talents in all of South America, the teenage prodigy was the golden boy of Ecuador.
Three years on, the situation could hardly be more different. The 19-year-old is coming off a World Cup that saw him play just 11 minutes of football and spend three games on the bench. Paez is no longer Ecuador’s great hope, nor does he seem to be part of Chelsea’s project.
When he arrived in Europe last year, the Blues immediately sent him to train with sister club Strasbourg and then announced that he would play for the club on loan, even though he reportedly did not make a positive impression on then-Racing coach Liam Rosenior.
Paez’s second loan cut short
By the end of 2025, Paez was back at Chelsea. He failed to impress at Strasbourg and had his loan cut short, with French media later claiming that the teenager was repeatedly accused of unprofessional behaviour at the Ligue 1 club.
Paez, it was alleged, spent much of his time in nightclubs or at Disneyland Paris, continuing a worrying trend of off-field escapades that had already begun before he arrived in Europe.
In January, Chelsea agreed an 18-month loan deal with River Plate in the hope that a return to South America and a more familiar cultural environment could help the youngster feel at home and unlock his potential.
And yet, here we are again. Six months on, Paez is on his way back to Chelsea after failing to break into the River Plate side. TyC Sports and Ben Jacobs report that his loan spell in Buenos Aires will be ended this summer.
He will leave the Argentine giants having played a grand total of 461 minutes across 14 appearances. He was an unused substitute or did not even make the matchday squad in nine matches.
It is unclear what happens next. Given how Chelsea operate in the market, their patience with Paez will be running thin, and it would not be shocking if he were to be offloaded permanently this summer.
It is believed that they paid only around €10 million for him, so it should not be too difficult to find a suitor willing to help the club recoup that trifling fee. But where could he revive his career?
According to data analytics firm SciSports, a move to LaLiga could suit the 19-year-old. Both Sevilla and Villarreal boast a very good Club Fit rating, as per SciSports’ Career Advice tool, which calculates this score based on several factors like playing time, playstyle and development prospects.
Sevilla are his best-suited team with a Club Fit rating of 84, followed by the Yellow Submarine with 80. Given Sevilla’s financial problems, they might not be able to sign him permanently, but a loan move to Andalusia could be ideal for him.
SciSports believes that Paez would also be an option for Leeds, although with the caveat that he could struggle to get regular minutes at Elland Road, particularly after the signing of Harry Wilson.
Lazio and Bologna are thought to be good destinations for him in Serie A, while Southampton and West Ham would suit him in the Championship. Regardless of where Paez ends up this summer, it is clear that he needs to get his next move right in order to stop the rot.
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