Kendry Paez has returned to Chelsea following the premature end of his loan at River Plate, but the 19-year-old Ecuadorian is unlikely to secure a spot in the first team for the time being.
Head coach Xabi Alonso has explicitly stated that the young midfielder does not factor into his future plans.
“At the moment, he is not part of the first team. He is not in our plans,” Alonso said when asked about Paez's future.
Paez's return to London was necessitated by the termination of his loan spell at River Plate earlier than expected, where he managed only a brief stint and failed to establish himself in the starting lineup.
Since coming back, Chelsea have been quick to seek an alternative loan arrangement for the player. Clubs from England and across Europe have expressed interest, including Norwich, Trabzonspor, Mechelen, and Blackburn. However, no agreements could be reached before the transfer window closed.
As a result, Paez remains within Chelsea's system and has been registered for the Premier League 2, where he will train with the U21 side. Due to his age, he could theoretically still be called up by Alonso for the first team if necessary.
This predicament marks a significant setback for Paez, who was once touted as one of South America's most promising young talents. Chelsea secured his transfer from Independiente del Valle in 2023, but he was only able to join the London side upon turning 18 in 2025.
