Kendry Páez broke his loan with Racing Strasbourg to join River Plate on loan. The Ecuadorian prospect belongs to Chelsea, but the club welcomed his return to South America to gain competitive experience. The 18-year-old has already accumulated his first minutes under coach Eduardo Coudet and is earning a place in the team.
The arrival of the former Independiente del Valle player could mark the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Londoners and Millonarios. Chilean media reported that the clubs are close to finalizing an agreement for the loan and sale of players. The agreement aims to establish a strategic partnership that benefits both teams in acquiring young talents.
The deal is still under discussion, and it is expected to be finalized before the end of 2026. The clubs have not issued statements regarding this matter. If finalized, the Blues could match any purchase offer for a player that River receives, while the Argentines would have the preference to choose from the players that the English club wishes to loan.
The agreement is part of Chelsea's strategy to loan out players and have priority in acquiring future projects. This situation is already happening with Racing Strasbourg, which is owned by the same owner as Stamford Bridge, so they would also participate in the agreement. "The possibility of accessing talents from Chelsea Football Club generates high expectations within the coaching staff and technical department of River Plate.
Adding these profiles without incurring high transfer costs represents an opportunity to strengthen their squad and maintain competitiveness," explained Infobae.