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Here is everything you need to know about Chelsea and Ecuador’s midfielder Caicedo, who currently holds the British transfer record.
Caicedo's arrival at Chelsea from Brighton in the summer of 2023 was met with great anticipation.
Since then, he has consistently showcased his exceptional talent, despite the team's struggles. His ability to win back possession, distribute the ball accurately, and drive forward with purpose sets him apart.
In a Chelsea midfield that is still in the rebuilding stage, Caicedo has been an ever-present force. As Chelsea look to rebuild, Caicedo is expected to play a pivotal role in their resurgence.
Pulse Sports has taken time to gather all the necessary information about the midfielder for your reading pleasure.
Moises Caicedo Background
Born in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, the midfielder was named Moisés Isaac Caicedo Corozo by his parents.
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Caicedo is the youngest of ten siblings, and his love for football was obvious from a very young age despite a lack of proper pitches.
His football dream kicked off on the scrubland pitches of his hometown, the Mujer Trabajadora neighbourhood, where goals were marked out by piles of stones.
Caicedo’s first set of football boots were bought and paid for by local coach Iván Guerra, who also covered his travel expenses and food whenever he had to play in another city.
Caicedo's football journey began at the tender age of five when he was invited to the Mujer Trabajadora soccer school by Guerra.
For seven formative years, he honed his skills on the field, participating in various games across the Santo Domingo Canton. His talent was so evident, earning him a coveted spot in a regional select XI.
Initially a forward, Caicedo's natural progression led him to transition into a midfield role.
At 13, he joined local side Colorados Jaipadida, an affiliate of professional club ESPOLI. His impressive performances with Jaipadida caught the eye of ESPOLI, and he was invited to train with the senior team. However, ESPOLI's relegation disrupted the connection between the two clubs, leaving Caicedo without a clear path to professional football.
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Determined to pursue his dream, Jaipadida director Darwin Castillo facilitated a trial for Caicedo with Mushuc Runa. Unfortunately, financial constraints hindered his ability to afford food and accommodation, forcing him to prematurely end the trial after a week.
A subsequent trial with Barcelona in Guayaquil also met with disappointment, leaving Caicedo's future uncertain.
Shortly after, one of Caicedo’s brothers brought him to Ecuadorian Serie A side Independiente del Valle for trials, which he successfully passed and kicked off his professional career.
How old is Moises Caicedo? (Caicedo age)
Caicedo was born on November 2, 2001, in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, making him 23 years old as of November 2024.
Moises Caicedo Club Career
After getting accepted into the Independiente del Valle youth team, tragedy struck as Caicedo ruptured the cruciate ligament in his knee in 2017, and he required surgeries, leaving him sidelined for 10 months.
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Following his recover, Caicedo became an integral part of the team, and even captained the Independiente del Valle youth team to the Copa Mitad del Mundo title in 2019, a youth tournament in Spain.
He made his debut for the senior team in the sam year, receiving compliments from first team manager at the time, Miguel Ángel Ramírez, calling him the best player in the squad.
Such was Caicedo's significance to Independiente del Valle's first team that the club prioritized his presence in a crucial Serie A match against rivals L.D.U. Quito in 2020.
They flew him back from an U-20 Copa Libertadores game in Paraguay to feature in the match, which Independiente del Valle ultimately won 3-2. Following the game, Caicedo rejoined the under-20 squad and played a pivotal role in their victory over River Plate in the 2020 U-20 Copa Libertadores final.
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Typically deployed as a defensive midfielder ("number 5") or a center-back during his time at Independiente del Valle, Caicedo's versatility was further showcased when he was moved to a box-to-box midfield role due to the form of Argentine midfielder Cristian Pellerano.
Caicedo’s performances caught the eye of European scouts, and he would later join English side Brighton & Hove Albion on a four-and-a-half-year deal in Febraury 2021.
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However, a couple of months later, he was sent on a season-long loan at Beerschot in the Belgium top flight, but was recalled in January 2022, due to shortages of central midfielders at Brighton.
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He would go on to become an important player in Brighton’s midfield, and his talent was so evident that it attracted interest from league leaders Arsenal.
His agents released a statement announcing in an open letter on the player’s Instagram page that he would love to leave the club. The letter stated that, "I am the youngest of 10 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador". Caicedo also thanked Brighton fans, saying that they would "always be in my heart."
However, the club rejected Arsenal’s proposed deal in January, and the player signed a new long term contract with Brighton until 2027, with the option for another year.
Caicedo put the drama behind, putting up solid performances on the pitch, and he would later win both Player of the Season and Player's Player at Brighton at the end of the season.
In June 2023, Brighton rejected a £80 million bid from Chelsea for Caicedo. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed his desire to keep Caicedo, stating he would be a key player in the upcoming season.
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However, a bidding war ensued between Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool initially agreed to a £111 million fee with Brighton, but Chelsea ultimately secured the deal with a higher offer of £115 million, setting a new British transfer record.
On August 14, 2023, Caicedo officially joined Chelsea, signing an eight-year contract with an option for an additional year. The transfer fee, while officially undisclosed, is believed to be a base fee of £100 million with potential performance-related add-ons, totaling approximately £115 million.
Moises Caicedo International Career
Caicedo made his debut for the Ecuador senior team in October 2020, in a World Cup qualifier against Argentina. Later that year, he scored his first international goal in a 4-2 victory over Uruguay.
In November 2022, Caicedo was selected to represent Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup alongside his Brighton teammates Pervis Estupiñán and Jeremy Sarmiento.
In the final group stage match against Senegal, he scored a crucial equalizer that temporarily put Ecuador on track to advance to the round of 16. However, Senegal's late goal secured their place in the knockout stage.
Moises Caicedo Achievements
Independiente U20
U-20 Copa Libertadores: 2020
Individual
Brighton & Hove Albion Player of the Season: 2022–23
Brighton & Hove Albion Players' Player of the Season: 2022–23
Chelsea Goal of the Season: 2023–24
Moises Caicedo Salary
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Caicedo currently earns £150,000 gross per week at Chelsea after signing an eight-year-contract in 2023.
His current salary is a massive increase from the £60,000 a week at Brighton that he earned after signing his contract renewal at the club.
Moises Caicedo Net Worth
According to several sources, Caicedo is estimated to have a net worth of over £2 million.
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Majority of his wealth comes from his salary as a professional footballer, as well as sponsorship deals, endorsements and bonuses.
Caicedo has a boot deal with Nike, ans he has been seen on social media advertising for the company. However, the details of the Nike contract is not known at the time of writing this.
Moises Caicedo Girlfriend
Caicedo has been in a long-term relationship with his older girlfriend Paola Salazar for five years. The couple met during Caicedo's time at Independiente del Valle in Ecuador and have been together since their teenage years.
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Paola, a model and influencer, has gained recognition for her beauty and online presence. She even held the title of Queen of the Carnival of the Americas in Los Rios province.
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The couple made headlines when Salazar was present at Caicedo's official unveiling as a Chelsea player in 2023. Despite Caicedo's preference for privacy, Salazar maintains an active Instagram account with over 100,000 followers.
Pulse Sports revealed that the couple are expecting their first child together.
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