Chelsea transfer news: Kendry Paez loan exit confirmed by world champions

Chelsea have formally announced that Kendry Paez has signed for Strasbourg on a season-long loan deal.

Back in June 2023, Chelsea agreed to sign the then-16-year-old from Independiente del Valle for €20m (£17.27m), but FIFA regulations meant that the playmaker was unable to complete a transfer until he turned 18.

With that milestone coming in May, the teenager was able to finalise his move prior to the Club World Cup, even though he was not considered for selection for that tournament.

Paez has barely played any football during 2025, his only senior outing being a 13-minute appearance for Ecuador against Peru in June.

As a result, the 18-year-old international is down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and a loan switch elsewhere was inevitable.

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Strasbourg loan Paez for 2025-26

Reports have persisted for a number of months that the plan for 2025-26 is a loan stint at Strasbourg, who are also owned by BlueCo.

That arrangement has been been confirmed by the Premier League giants with yet another Chelsea player moving to Stade de la Meinau.

Goalkeeper Mike Penders has already signed for Strasbourg on loan and Mamadou Sarr - a former star man of the French side - is expected to make the same switch in due course.

Meanwhile, Ishe Samuels-Smith and Mathis Amougou have signed on permanent transfers to further bolster Liam Rosenior's squad.

The hope is that game time will be delivered for all five players, something which will be aided if Strasbourg can qualify for the League Phase of the Conference League.

Paez will be eager to build on the promising start to his career having already contributed 13 goals and six assists from 70 games for Independiente del Valle.

Not featuring for the first half of 2025 has provided him with a break from action before making the transition to life in Europe.