Chelsea are having to provide the new signing and his family with 24/7 security amid rising tensions in Ecuador.
On 5 June 2023, it was confirmed that 16-year-old Kendry Paez would sign for Chelsea and join up with his new team in 2025 after his 18th birthday.
Until then the teenager will remain at Independiente del Valle, but the current political climate in Ecuador means the London club are having to take extra measures.
Last week a live TV broadcast in the country was hijacked by masked armed men, as concerns over gang violence rise.
The South American country responded by declaring war on the country's armed gangs.
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Ecuador's President, Daniel Naboa, told the BBC: “We are fighting every day so that we do not become a narco-state. I do believe that we can win [this war] and I will not stop fighting until we do.”
The Telegraph has reported that Chelsea are currently paying for constant security for Paez and his family.
The 16-year-old playmaker has already visited Cobham to meet his new teammates and attended multiple Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.
The Ecuadorian youngster scored on debut for Independiente aged just 15, and his career has continued to spiral upwards since that record-breaking moment.
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Paez has already earned five senior caps for Ecuador and became the nation's youngest-ever goalscorer as well as the youngest player ever to score in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers at just 16 years and 161 days old.
The club has offered their complete support for the duration of his time in Ecuador and have also extended the offer to fellow Ecuadorian Moises Caicedo.
Caicedo also played for Independiente del Valle before switching to the Premier League in 2021.
Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Ecuador, FIFA Club World Cup, Football, Moises Caicedo
Tom Jenkins