Chelsea wonderkid Kendry Paez sent stern warning by coach after £17m star caught partying again in nightclub

Paez first found himself in hot water back in March when he, along with senior team members Robert Arboleda and Gonzalo Plata, visited a New York strip club. This raised eyebrows as Paez, being a minor, was not legally allowed to be at such a venue under U.S. law, which prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering such establishments.

The Ecuadorian Football Federation was quick to act, publicly stating that the behaviour of the players went against their "values and principles" and warned that future misconduct could lead to players being dropped from the national squad.

Despite the fallout from the March scandal, Paez has once again found himself in trouble for similar reasons. Reports have emerged that the young star was caught partying in a nightclub ahead of Ecuador’s upcoming international matches. This time, Ecuador head coach Sebastian Beccacece has intervened directly, advising Paez to be more mindful of his behaviour off the pitch.

In a recent interview with Ecuadorian outlet Studio Futbol (via the Daily Mail), Beccacece commented on the situation, saying: “I have experience with him. I rely on that, but I don't ignore what happens on social networks or at his club. It’s my responsibility to be aware. But my experience with him has made me empathetic. He is very talented, and he knows he must learn to handle this, especially now that he is sold to a club and is part of the national team. He has been important in day-to-day practices. He was significant when he came on against Brazil and stood out against Peru, hitting from outside and connecting well with Pervis. I would like him to play outside, but he can’t because of age restrictions. But I'm attentive to him, and he has been respectful to us."

In October 2023, Paez made history by becoming the youngest South American player to score in a World Cup qualifier at the age of 16 years and 161 days. The goal against Bolivia, assisted by fellow Ecuador and future Chelsea team-mate Moises Caicedo, further solidified Paez’s status as a rising star in international football.

Chelsea agreed to sign the midfielder from Independiente del Valle in the summer of 2023 when Paez was just 16 years old, and he will travel to London next summer after he turns 18. He will be in action against Paraguay and Uruguay in the next two CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with Ecuador on October 10 and 15 respectively.