Chelsea midfielder Kendry Páez will train with the club’s under-21s until at least January after manager Xabi Alonso confirmed the Ecuador international is not part of his first-team plans.
The 19-year-old returned to west London last month when his loan at River Plate was ended early, but Chelsea were unable to arrange another move before the transfer window closed.
Asked whether Páez could be integrated into the senior squad before the January transfer window, Alonso said: “No, no. He is not part of the plans. At the moment, he is not part of the first team squad.”
Kendry Páez faces uncertain Chelsea future
Páez is expected to remain with Chelsea’s under-21 side until the market reopens in January 2027. His age means he can still be registered for the Premier League 2 squad, while the club retains the option of considering him for a future move.
Chelsea had been seeking a loan in England after River Plate cut short his spell in Argentina. Reports indicate that the club’s remaining overseas loan places were used on Robert Sánchez’s move to Como and Dario Essugo’s switch to Strasbourg, leaving Páez without a suitable destination.
The attacking midfielder joined Chelsea from Independiente del Valle in a deal agreed in 2023 and has yet to make a competitive appearance for the club. He subsequently spent time on loan at Strasbourg before moving to River Plate in January.
Páez can operate centrally or on either flank, with his creativity and ability to contribute goals having made him one of Ecuador’s most highly regarded young players. However, his latest setback leaves his immediate development dependent on finding regular football elsewhere.
Chelsea will now have to decide whether to sanction another loan or pursue a permanent transfer when the January window opens. For Páez, the priority will be to maintain his fitness and form while he waits for a route back into senior football.
