Chelsea signs Moises Caicedo from Brighton for Britain record $146M
LONDON — Chelsea signed Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton on Monday for a reported 115 million kilos ($146 million), which is a document price for a switch in Britain.
Chelsea beat Liverpool to the signature of the 21-year-old Caicedo, who solely performed one full season for Brighton after becoming a member of from Ecuadorian membership Independiente del Valle in 2021.
The price surpasses the 106.7 million kilos (then $131.4 million) that Chelsea paid for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez within the January switch window. Another midfielder, Declan Rice, joined Arsenal from West Ham for 100 million kilos ($127 million), plus add-ons, final month.
“I didn’t have to think twice when Chelsea called me, I just knew I wanted to sign for the club,” Caicedo mentioned. “It’s a dream come true to be here and I can’t wait to get started with the team.”
It accelerates the heavy and unprecedented spending of Chelsea in its new regime underneath Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. The London membership spent $630 million throughout the earlier two switch home windows and the spree has continued on this summer time’s window with an outlay of greater than $300 million, though that has been offset by the sale of a slew of gamers on massive wages together with N’Golo Kante, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic.
Caicedo has signed an preliminary eight-year deal, which continues Chelsea’s coverage of handing out lengthy contracts to unfold “amortization” prices of switch charges throughout the entire deal.
Caicedo, who spent the primary half of the 2021-22 season on mortgage at Beerschot in Belgium earlier than being built-in into Brighton’s workforce, is a defensive midfielder who is nice on the ball, covers floor rapidly and is an intense presser.
He will dovetail with Fernandez in a younger and thrilling partnership underneath Chelsea supervisor Mauricio Pochettino, who’s in his first 12 months in cost and has overseen a outstanding squad overhaul.
“Moises possesses a rare midfield skill set and is a player we’ve been targeting for some time,” Chelsea co-sporting administrators Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley mentioned. “We imagine he’ll make a big impression at Stamford Bridge this season — and within the years forward.’
Chelsea opened the Premier League with a 1-1 draw towards Liverpool on Sunday.
Liverpool reached an settlement with Brighton final week to purchase Caicedo for a reported 110 million kilos ($140 million). He by no means ended up touring to Merseyside as a result of he most well-liked to hitch Chelsea, which had made affords for the midfielder through the offseason.
Caicedo wasn’t concerned in Brighton’s opening recreation of the Premier League season, a 4-1 win over Luton on Saturday.
