Chelsea have officially confirmed that young midfielder Kendry Paez has joined Argentine giants River Plate on loan for the remainder of the season. The announcement was made on Friday night as the Premier League club continues to manage the development of its young talents.

Before completing the move, Chelsea recalled the 18-year-old from French side Strasbourg, where he had been on loan. An agreement was reached for Paez to cut short his stay in Ligue 1, allowing him to switch to South America in search of more regular playing time and competitive exposure.

During his spell at Strasbourg, Paez featured in 15 Ligue 1 matches, scoring one goal. He also gained European experience with five appearances in the UEFA Conference League, adding valuable minutes to his growing career despite limited attacking returns.

Paez, who still has seven years left on his Chelsea contract after joining from Independiente del Valle last year, is expected to benefit from consistent first-team football at River Plate. The loan move is seen as a strategic step to help him gain experience and improve his chances of breaking into Chelsea’s senior squad next season.