Chelsea agree Deivid Washington loan to Santos | OneFootball

Chelsea have reached an agreement to loan young striker Deivid Washington back to his former club, Santos, for the 2025 season, The Athletic reports.

The 18-year-old will return to Brazil to gain valuable first-team experience and will get the chance to play alongside Neymar, who recently rejoined Santos on a short-term deal.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward mutually terminated his contract with Saudi club Al Hilal to make an emotional return to his first professional team.

Washington was part of the Brazil squad that won the Under-20 South American Championship last weekend but has struggled for game time at Chelsea.

Washington joined Chelsea in a deal worth an initial €16 million (£13.3m) plus an additional €4m (£3.3m) in add-ons from Santos back in August 2023.

However, he has struggled to make an impact in Chelsea colours, making just three substitute appearances for the first team.

A return to his boyhood club could offer him the regular playing time he needs to develop further.

The Brazilian league season runs from March 29 to December 21, but Chelsea have included a break clause that allows them to recall Washington when the English summer transfer window opens.

There is no purchase option in the deal, and Santos will cover his wages without paying a loan fee.

Washington’s exit comes amidst a striker crisis at Chelsea, with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu set for lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s highly-rated Ecuadorian prospect, Kendry Paez, has arrived at the club’s training base as he begins adapting to European football.

The 17-year-old midfielder was signed from Independiente del Valle in 2023 but cannot officially complete his transfer until he turns 18 in May 2025.

However, FIFA regulations allow him to train with Chelsea as long as he does not play competitive matches.

Paez captained Ecuador at the recent U20 South America Championship.

He will remain in Europe to continue his development rather than returning to his former club. Chelsea see him as a key part of their future and are keen to help him adjust to life in England before his official move.