Chelsea eyes Turkish move for Kendry Páez as River stint ends

Kendry Páez will leave River Plate earlier than expected, with Chelsea recalling the Ecuadorian midfielder and reportedly targeting a loan to Turkish side Trabzonspor, where Mohamed Salah now stars. The decision follows a season of limited playing time and a clause in his loan agreement.

High expectations at arrival

The midfielder arrived at River with considerable hype at the start of 2026. His link to Chelsea, his spell with Racing de Estrasburgo and his status as an Ecuador national team member suggested he could become a key figure for the club.

Fans imagined a player capable of decisive one‑on‑one play and an offensive profile that would boost River’s attack.

Chelsea’s next move

During his eight‑month spell, Páez featured in 14 matches, totalling 461 minutes, scoring once and providing an assist, the goal coming against Aldosivi at the Monumental.

He failed to reach the 50% appearance threshold required by the loan terms, prompting Chelsea to activate a recall clause to protect his market value.

The English club now seeks a new loan destination, with Trabzonspor emerging as a concrete option. The Turkish side recently added Mohamed Salah after his successful period at Liverpool and is building a squad around the Egyptian star.

Sharing a dressing room with Salah offers an attractive prospect for the Ecuadorian, who needs regular competition to revive his form.

Earlier speculation linked Páez with a move to Belgium, but that option has lost momentum in recent weeks.

The situation mirrors that of Matías Viña, whose parent club Flamengo is also searching for a loan destination to maintain the player’s development and value.

Internationally, Páez featured only 15 minutes in his World Cup debut for Ecuador against Mexico, limiting his chance to showcase his talent on a global stage.

Chelsea will decide the midfielder’s next step soon, with Trabzonspor positioned as the most likely destination to give the young talent the continuity he requires.