133 million euros. This is the sum spent by Chelsea to acquire the promising Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo, several British media reported on Monday. Never has a Premier League club paid so much to afford a player.
Last January, the recruitment of Enzo Fernandez for 126 million euros was the biggest investment from an English club to attract a player. It was already the Blues who had carried out this madness to recruit the Argentine midfielder from Benfica, world champion in Qatar.
Brighton bought him for 5 million in 2021
The 21-year-old Ecuadorian international, who will therefore join the London club, was also coveted by Liverpool during this transfer window. An agreement had even been reached between his Brighton club and the Reds for around 127 million euros. But the one who became the most expensive player in the championship, after a period of hesitation, set his sights on the formation coached by Mauricio Pochettino. With this transaction, Brighton achieves a huge capital gain since Moises Caicedo was bought around five million euros from the Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in 2021.
The defensive midfielder is expected to sign for eight seasons at Chelsea, until 2031, according to the media, and could make his first appearance in his new colors on Sunday against West Ham. Caicedo, who has less than 50 Premier League appearances, was not selected by his club for the opener last weekend against promoted Luton Town (4-1 victory).
Before Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, the most expensive signings in Premier League history were Englishman Declan Rice (122 million euros paid by Arsenal to West Ham in 2023) and his compatriot Jack Grealish (117 million paid by Manchester City to Aston Villa in 2021).
