Chelsea youngster Kendry Paez is reportedly preparing to leave Stamford Bridge when the January transfer window opens after struggling to establish himself under manager Xabi Alonso.

According to a report by The Athletic on Thursday, 22 October 2026, the Ecuadorian midfielder is "ready to leave Chelsea", according to transfer journalist Nicolo Schira, although it remains unclear whether he wants another loan move or a permanent departure.

Paez joined Chelsea last summer after turning 18, having agreed to move to the Premier League club two years earlier from Independiente del Valle in Ecuador.

He arrived with considerable expectations but has yet to make the anticipated breakthrough into the senior team.

The midfielder has endured loan spells at Strasbourg and River Plate, but neither move has helped him secure a regular place in Chelsea's first-team plans. He has instead been playing for the club's Under-21 side this season.

His situation is particularly concerning given the backing he has received from senior Chelsea players, including captain Reece James and forward Cole Palmer, who reportedly believe he has the potential to become an important player for the club.

In January, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed the level of support Paez had received from the senior squad.

"I think Palmer had spoken to Kendry Paez even when he was at Strasbourg about long-term integration, and Reece James has had a conversation with him as well," Jacobs reported.

"So a lot of the senior Chelsea players have been quite invested in Kendry Paez because they think that he could be big for the football club one day."

Despite that encouragement, Paez has struggled to make a strong impression at youth level. The report states that he has recorded just one assist in four appearances for Chelsea's Under-21s during the 2026/27 campaign.

Questions have also been raised in previous reports about his professionalism, although his difficulties could equally reflect the challenge of adapting to English football and meeting the expectations that accompanied his arrival.

Paez was previously regarded as one of Ecuador's most promising young talents, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the country's top flight.