Moises Caicedo

Moisés Isaac Caicedo Corozo (born 2 November 2001) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the Ecuador national team. Often considered one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, Caicedo is known for his passing and interceptions.

Caicedo began his career at Independiente del Valle. In February 2021, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee and broke into the first team following a loan to Beerschot in the Belgian Pro League. In August 2023, he joined Chelsea for a reported fee of £100 million, winning the UEFA Conference League in 2024–25.

A full international with over 50 caps for Ecuador since 2020, Caicedo was selected in the nation’s squads for two Copa América tournaments and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Caicedo was invited to play his first organised football at the Mujer Trabajadora soccer school by Guerra, and he played there between the ages of five and twelve.  The team would often play in games across the Santo Domingo Canton, and Caicedo earned a call-up to a regional select XI.  Initially a forward, Caicedo later developed into a midfielder, and at the age of thirteen joined local side Colorados Jaipadida, an affiliate of professional club ESPOLI.

Following impressive performances with Jaipadida, he was invited to train with ESPOLI. However, following ESPOLI’s relegation, the tie with Jaipadida was severed, and Caicedo was left without a direct pathway to professional football. Jaipadida director Darwin Castillo sent Caicedo to trial with professional side Mushuc Runa, but after he was unable to pay for food or board, the trial was ended after a week. A later trial with Barcelona in Guayaquil would also prove unsuccessful.

Caicedo joined Chelsea on 14 August 2023, signing an eight-year contract, with the option of a one-year extension. Although the fee was officially undisclosed, it was reported to be worth a base transfer fee £100 million. This fee could potentially increase to approximately £115 million due to performance related add-ons, a British transfer fee record for a single player, which would surpass the £107 million fee paid by Chelsea for Enzo Fernández. Caicedo received the squad number 25, which was not officially retired but had not been worn since Gianfranco Zola left Chelsea in 2003; Zola endorsed Caicedo’s wearing of the number.

On 20 August, Caicedo made his debut for his new club, coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute in a Premier League match against West Ham United, which saw Caicedo give away a penalty which was converted by Lucas Paquetá, in a 3–1 loss. On 19 May 2024, the final match day of the Premier League season, he scored his first goal for Chelsea with a shot from 50 yards out, in a 2–1 win over Bournemouth.

On 22 August 2024, Caicedo captained Chelsea for the first time against Servette during the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League play-off round.  On 3 November 2024, he netted his first goal of the season with a volley from the edge of the 18-yard box in a 1–1 draw in an away match against Manchester United. On 28 May 2025, he scored a stoppage-time goal in a 4–1 victory over Real Betis in the 2025 UEFA Conference League final. Following the conclusion of the 2024–25 season, Caicedo would be rewarded for his extraordinary performances with the Chelsea Player of the Season award. He was the only Chelsea player in the current squad to have started all 38 Premier League fixtures across the season.

On 22 August 2025, Caicedo made his 100th appearance for Chelsea, scoring in a 5–1 victory over rivals West Ham United.

Caicedo usually plays on the right side of a midfield pivot as a holding midfielder. His attributes are more defensive minded, but despite a more defensive role in the side, he is able to play box-to-box and contribute to his side’s counter attacks. He is also a good passer while intercepting attacks along the midfield. Throughout 2025, Caicedo was often ranked among the best defensive midfielders in the world.

Statistics

Season	Competition	Appearances	Goals	Assists	Yellow Cards	Red Cards	Minutes Played
2023/24	Premier League	34	2	3	9	0	2,850
2024/25	Chelsea First Team	9	1	1	3	0	760
Total	—	43	3	4	12	0	3,610