There is a strong chance that Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo could be lined up to face Chelsea in a Saturday friendly next season, if both clubs agree a transfer fee.
Having fended off interest from Arsenal in January – which publicly pushed the 21-year-old for a move before extending his contract until 2027 – Brighton now look more willing to let him leave. But with Arsenal opting to spend £105m ($131m) to bring West Ham’s Declan Rice instead, sources tell ESPN that Chelsea are now heading the waiting list to sign Caicedo and have already seen a £70m ($91.5m) bid rejected.
With a transfer worth around £100m, the Ecuadorean international’s career has skyrocketed since joining Brighton in August 2021 from Independiente del Valle, a club famous for its first-class academy, for just £4m. He was sent out on loan to Beerschot in Belgium to immediately gain experience, but when Caicedo returned it didn’t take long to get back on his feet in the Premier League, establishing himself as one of the best young midfielders in the game during his first full season.
Here’s the lowdown on Chelsea’s possible new arrival.
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What makes it so special?
Last season stats provide certain clues. Caicedo is second in the Premier League for tackles (100, a success rate of 39.1%) and second for interceptions (56), both crucial measures for evaluating a midfielder who is mainly praised for his defensive abilities.
He ranked eighth in recoveries (248) and recovered it again and again with his excellent positioning and quick thinking, then filled in the gaps when cover was needed. In addition, he assists the transition with positive, quick passing, which enables more offensive teammates to throw the opponent off balance on the counter-attack.
Then there’s the rate at which he keeps doing the right thing, game after game, practically without fail. His 32 caps for Ecuador at the age of 21 is also a strong indication of his maturity. Although Caicedo’s development is far from over, his fortitude, work ethic and tactics are far above what would be expected of top level footballers in their early twenties.
“He came late to the academy – he was about to turn 15. He was a very down-to-earth little kid; he didn’t get much playing time in the first year but he was always very extroverted, focused, steady and reliable. He always gave his best in every training session and was willing to listen and take guidance from his coaches. He was a perfect kid to work with in that sense.”
“He was the type of talent who would whisper rather than shout; you couldn’t really say he would become one of the most sought-after defensive midfielders in the world after just a few years.” – Luis Ruggiero, sporting director at Independiente del Valle when Caicedo joined the club.
While some other midfielders/defensive midfielders across Europe may be just as diligent in the ‘destructive’ side of the game, it is worth emphasizing that Caicedo has proven exceptionally reliable in possession (88.8% passing rate last season, with an 83% success rate in long passes) and pushes the ball forward like an expert No. 8. In fact, his influence as an attacking force tends to be underestimated when he’s the last ball on the ball.
With an impressive work rate, tactical discipline, physical strength and athleticism, Caicedo is remarkably competent at what he does well. It perfectly blends the classic No. 6 and No. 8 skill set without any drop in quality. The way the young man enjoys each challenge suggests he will go far.
“I remember when he was 17, he didn’t make the team that was going to play in the Copa Metad del Mundo – an important under-18 tournament that Independiente organizes every year – because he was coming back from injury. But at the last minute we had another player injured so we called him up to the squad.
“Caicedo had just traveled four or five hours on an uncomfortable bus back home. We called him hoping he hadn’t left yet but he was already home, so we asked him to come back. He had to take another long bus ride but he ended up becoming a starter in that tournament, which we won, and from there he never stopped.
“Later that season we went to play in a tournament in Spain where he had another great performance. At the end of that season he was promoted to the first team with a view to making it easier for the next season, but he was already coping well with the demands of the first team, exceeded expectations and got playing time”. – Rogerio
How will his fitness at Chelsea?
Under Mauricio Pochettino, if he were to play in a dual pivot (similar to the tactical setup at Brighton) that would make him compatible with the Argentina midfielder. Enzo Fernandezwho was signed for a British record £106.8m in January.
Caicedo has tended to leave the lion’s share of creative duties to either Pascal Gross or Alexis McAllister, so his roaming presence in central areas should give room for Fernandez to shine.
Although Caicedo is capable of performing playmaking duties himself, Fernandez’s ability to select line-breaking passes or post side-switch balls is his main strength. Having the Ecuadorian by his side will ensure he can focus on these matters.
Is he similar to N’Golo Kante in style?
With his incredible stamina, it’s easy to imagine Caicedo covering vast spaces in midfield and raking in loose balls in the mold of Kante. The French player, who left on a free transfer to join Al Ittihad this summer, has a somewhat distinctive style that is not the easiest to replicate, but he has proven incredibly successful over recent years.
At his peak with Chelsea in 2016-17, Kante was second in tackles (127, a success rate of 47.4%), sixth in interceptions (82) and second in recoveries (275) with two fewer games. Stats similar to Caicedo.
However, don’t be surprised if the Ecuadorian increases his attacking abilities at Chelsea as his massive working radius also brings him into very useful positions in and around the opposition penalty area.
In the 2016-17 season, Kante created 22 chances (key passes plus assists) for his Chelsea teammates and took 27 shots, while Caicedo created 43 chances and took 28 shots in 2022-23 for Brighton. So you can expect him to have an impact on both ends of the field.
Where could he improve?
Caicedo is still prone to excessive fouling, which results from his all-out, energetic style. He can also convert more of his chances into goals when he enters the penalty area and increase his creativity in the final third.
But, above all, he will need to ensure that he maintains his high level of performance in a new environment, rather than adding new aspects to his game.
“What happened with Brighton is just further confirmation of Caicedo’s ability to perform at the level required – or even better. I think wherever his next step is, from what he’s shown us so far, he should be able to continue down the same path.” – Rogerio
Are there other clubs interested?
While Arsenal’s pursuit of Caicedo declined with the arrival of Rice, Liverpool and Manchester United kept a close eye on him. Despite the drop of Brighton’s McAllister (£35m) and RB Leipzig’s Dominic Zuboszlai (£62m), Liverpool are in need of a modern ‘hybrid’ midfielder, and Caicedo would fit the bill perfectly. Manchester United could also benefit from a quality upgrade alongside Casemiro.
However, it appears that Chelsea’s long-term interest may have put them in the driving seat. Brighton have so far stuck to their £100m estimation, but it might not be long before Caicedo dons a different blue shirt.
