Chelsea sign Jesse Derry, loan Kendry Paez to Strasbourg

Chelsea Football Club on Thursday officially confirmed two major player transfer updates, involving the acquisition of promising young talent Jesse Derry from Crystal Palace and the loan move of Ecuadorian starlet Kendry Paez to Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg.

In a statement published on its website, the West London club revealed that 18-year-old Derry has signed a long-term contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2029. The highly rated winger arrives from fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace, where he developed through the youth ranks.

Derry, who recently represented England at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship this summer, is seen as a strong addition to Chelsea’s growing pool of homegrown talent. His signing aligns with the club’s ongoing strategy of investing in promising young players to bolster future squad depth and competitiveness.

READ ALSO: Chelsea push forward in pursuit of Jorrel Hato, Xavi Simons, João Félix

In a separate announcement, Chelsea confirmed that Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Paez has completed a season-long loan move to RC Strasbourg, one of the French top-flight clubs owned by the same consortium as Chelsea.

The loan spell is expected to aid Paez’s adaptation to European football while gaining crucial experience at the senior level.

The 18-year-old Paez, who joined Chelsea from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle, has already made a name for himself in South America with 70 senior appearances and 18 caps for the Ecuadorian national team. He made his professional debut in February 2023 and has since become one of the most talked-about young prospects in world football.

“We look forward to monitoring and supporting Kendry’s development throughout his time in France. Good luck, Kendry,” Chelsea said in their official statement, underscoring the club’s commitment to the player’s growth during his loan spell.

Both moves underscore Chelsea’s long-term vision of developing young players either for future first-team roles or as valuable assets within the broader football ecosystem.