Chelsea’s highly touted teenage prospect, Kendry Paez, finds himself embroiled in controversy after being illegally spotted in a strip club.
The talented attacking midfielder, signed by Chelsea for £17.27 million from Independiente del Valle, is regarded as one of the top young prospects globally. However, despite his immense potential, Paez’s recent actions have drawn unwanted attention.
Paez, who is set to officially join Chelsea on his 18th birthday in May next year, has already visited England for training and to watch Chelsea matches. Until then, he continues to play for Independiente del Valle, where he has made three appearances this season, netting one goal.
Chelsea wonder kid Paez filmed in a strip club with senior players
According to reports by The Telegraph, Paez was allegedly taken to a New York strip club by senior members of the Ecuador squad before their match against Italy.
Videos surfaced on social media showing Paez celebrating in nightclubs following Ecuador’s victory over Guatemala in an international friendly, raising concerns as he is under the legal age to be present at such clubs in the United States.
#Breaking: Leaked video shows that various Ecuador National team players were out partying in NYC before their 2-0 loss to Italy on Sunday..
The videos circulating also show Kendry Paez (16-year-old) attending an adult nightclub with his fellow teammates.#Players involved are:… pic.twitter.com/9yRauu0dMn
— ? BlueCo Xtra (@Bluecoxtra) March 26, 2024
The Ecuadorian FA threatens to suspend the players involved
The videos attracted a lot of backlash, calling for action against those who were involved. This prompted the Ecuadorian FA to release a statement.
They confirmed that the players were given time for relaxation after their win against Guatemala. However, they condemned the manner of celebration, claiming that it goes against the values and principles of the institution.
The statement read:
“Given the facts of public knowledge, the FEF expresses the following: The official delegation had free time on Friday, March 22, from 2pm to 8.30pm, a schedule that was fully complied with.”
“Images of events contrary to the values and principles that we defend and promote as an institution have been disseminated, which will be the subject of analysis for future calls. We reiterate our commitment to Ecuadorian soccer.”
Chelsea expected to leave the matter for Ecuador and Independiente Del Valle to handle
As per the report, Chelsea are likely to leave the matter in the hands of The Ecuadorian Federation and his current club Independiente del Valle.
It is expected that Paez may just receive a warning, while the senior players involved may face disciplinary action.
Reports from Ecuador suggest that those responsible for the strip club visit could potentially be dropped from the national team as consequences for their actions.