There were a few surprised faces when Chelsea's squad for the FIFA Club World Cup was announced earlier in the week and there was no sign of Kendry Paez.

The agreed a £17million deal with Independiente del Valle over two years ago for the now 18-year-old to move to Stamford Bridge this summer. There has since been mass excitement with Chelsea supporters tuning in to watch whenever he plays for Ecuador's senior team - usually alongside .

However, they are going to have to wait a bit longer until they see Paez donning the Chelsea kit on the pitch. football.london understands the Ecuadorian teenager is set to move to Strasbourg on a season-long loan deal as the Blues look to hand him some valuable first team experience.

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Paez spent time in eastern France in April and trained with Liam Rosenior and the Strasbourg squad. , the initial plan was for Paez to acclimatise to European culture, as well as learn the training methods and expectations of Rosenior. Now, two months on, it looks as if Paez will be spending a little bit more time with the BlueCo-owned French club.

The South American is set to follow the path has been on. The 21-year-old midfielder spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan with Strasbourg and flourished in the process. Santos ended the season with 11 goals and five assists in all competitions and was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season.

Where Santos will be playing his football next season still remains to be seen, but the Brazil international will have the opportunity to impress at the Club World Cup. selected by the Blues head coach, with his side's first game coming against Los Angeles FC on Monday in Atlanta.

As far as the midfielder is concerned, though, he wants to be playing his football at Stamford Bridge next term. Speaking in an interview with Diario AS last week, the Chelsea youngster said: "In principle, I stay at Chelsea. I want to play, I want to have minutes to be able to earn my place in the World Cup [with Brazil].

"I want to consolidate myself in Chelsea, I want to play regularly and be an undisputed starter, win titles with this shirt. I spoke with Romeo [Lavia] and Moi [Caicedo]. I'm anxious to get to Chelsea.

"When we talk about Chelsea, it is a matter of winning and fighting for all competitions. With the Club World Cup, it will not be different. We want to be the champions."

Santos, if he can have a strong Club World Cup in the United States, is well on his way to becoming a crucial part of the squad at Stamford Bridge. Paez will be looking to follow in his footsteps on a very similar path.