Chelsea starlet Kendry Paez set to join Trabzonspor

Kendry Paez’s Chelsea career looks set to remain on hold, with the Ecuadorian youngster reportedly close to joining Trabzonspor on loan for the 2026/27 season.

According to reports from Argentina, Chelsea are in negotiations with the Turkish club and Paez is now considered close to completing the move. No final agreement has been confirmed yet, but Trabzonspor have emerged as the frontrunners for a player whose development has stalled during two difficult loan spells.

The 19-year-old joined Chelsea from Independiente del Valle in 2025 having already established himself as one of South America’s most exciting young talents. The attacking midfielder arrived in London with an enormous reputation, having become Ecuador’s youngest senior international and impressing at youth level with his creativity, passing and dribbling.

Paez spent the first half of the 2025/26 campaign with Strasbourg, making 21 appearances but playing only 718 minutes and scoring once. Chelsea subsequently recalled him and sent him to River Plate, hoping that a return to South America would provide the youngster with the regular football he needed.

Instead, that spell also ended prematurely. Paez struggled to establish himself as a regular starter at River, with reports indicating that Chelsea moved to terminate the loan early before searching for another destination. Across his two loan spells, he has struggled to build the consistent run of senior football required at this stage of his development.

Trabzonspor could therefore represent another opportunity rather than another setback. The Turkish side are expected to offer Paez the chance to play European football and, crucially, compete for regular first-team minutes.

Opinion: It is a shame Paez has not fulfilled his potential yet

This was a player CHELSEA signed because of his extraordinary potential. Before moving to Stamford Bridge, he looked capable of becoming one of Ecuador’s great footballing exports. His technical ability and vision were obvious, and his early international career suggested that he could develop into a special attacking midfielder.

Yet potential means very little without regular football and the right environment.

At only 19, Paez still has plenty of time to turn his career around. A successful season in Turkey could provide the platform he desperately needs, allowing him to build confidence, develop physically and finally show the consistency that has been missing.

CHELSEA should not write him off. The talent that attracted them to Paez in the first place has not simply disappeared.

MORE BIG CHELSEA NEWS AND GOSSIP

Top Read: £65M valued star tells Alonso he wants to be Chelsea player amid big summer talk!

Most Read: Chelsea welcome brand new signing and officially wrap up summer switch!

Must Read: New signing EXCITED about Chelsea move – Alonso green light Chelsea do Spaniard deal – Blues star happy with summer signing