By Martin Graham
when Moises Caicedo completed his £100m transfer Brighton to Chelsea in 2023, the fee raised many questions. Two years on, the Ecuadorian has silenced doubters and become one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League.
His performance in the 2-1 win over the current champions Liverpool before the international break it was a statement. He opened the scoring with a powerful strike, earning praise from BBC pundit Alan Shearer, who noted his display “had everything”, even reminding him of Frank Lampard and N’Golo Kanté. Caicedo himself has spoken of modeling his game with Kanté and Claude Makélélé.
At 23, he is already the top scorer among Chelsea players this season, sharing three strikes Enzo Fernandez — both sitting as the club’s leading scorers from midfield.
Elite among his peers
Statistically, Caicedo is among the best. No midfielder in Europe’s top five divisions has registered more tackles (28) or interceptions (18) this campaign. Those 28 challenges represent almost a quarter of Chelsea’s total, a ratio that has only been surpassed by one player since Opta began tracking in 2006-07. Also, only Burnley’s Josh Cullen has made more defensive blocks among midfielders.
His consistency dates back to last season, when he made 142 tackles without a penalty or red card. Compared to top midfielders like Rice Declan i Ryan GravenberchCaicedo takes more defensive actions and wins a higher proportion of duels (59%).
Offensively, his current production has exceeded expectations. He has scored three times with an xG of just 0.5, with two efforts from distance, equaling Bournemouth’s. Antoine Semenyo for long-term goals. Rice remains the main attacking contributor among the midfielders thanks to his set-piece responsibilities, while others such as Gravenberch, Rodri, toneand Guimarães bring their own mix of qualities. But defensively, no one has matched Caicedo’s impact this season.
A relentless schedule
Caicedo’s influence comes at a cost. A FIFPro study highlighted his heavy workload, detailing a brutal 14-day period in October 2024 during which he covered almost 25,000km, represented club and country in four matches on two continents and averaged just over 110 hours between matches. During the previous season he crossed borders 27 times and spent more than 175 hours in transit.
Chelsea’s summer was just as busy. Their Club World Cup triumph added seven games to their schedule in the United States, leaving the squad with just 20 days’ rest and a shortened pre-season. Assistant coach Willy Caballero acknowledged that the squad has to manage Caicedo’s playing time occasionally, even though he only recently received his first international break.
The midfielder remains central from Ecuador success, having played a key role in their qualification for the 2026 World Cup by finishing second in the South American standings, ahead of Brazil.
More than a footballer
Caicedo’s story has resonated far beyond the pitch. The youngest of ten children, he overcame poverty in Ecuador to become a national hero, recently compared by a commentator to Michael Jordan. Its business profile has grown rapidly, with nine sponsorship deals signed in the past year, including partnerships with Banco Guayaquil and a Chinese technology company. An animated children’s series called Mini Moi is being developed to tell his story to Latin American audiences.
Off the field he is reserved, deeply religious and part of the club’s PlayStation group. On the pitch, however, he is anything but affable, a contrast noted by Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, who called him the best midfielder in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s dependency dilemma
Caicedo’s importance is reflected in its remarkable availability. Last season he was one of seven outfield players to start every league game, becoming the first Chelsea midfielder since Lampard in 2004-05 to achieve the feat. He has started every Premier League and Champions League game this season, missing only a Carabao Cup tie against Lincoln City.
The club tried to add depth over the summer with Dário Essugo and recalling Andrey Santos. Unfortunately, both are injured, while Romeo Lavia has barely featured. As a result, Caicedo remains the undisputed linchpin, with the club even considering a contract upgrade despite his deal running until 2032.
Initially criticized for the transfer fee, Caicedo worked with a psychologist to adapt to the pressure. He finished last season as the players’ and fans’ choice as Chelsea’s Player of the Season. His inner circle mainly consists of his brothers, Marco and Miguel, who help manage his career, and his mother, Carmen, who was present when he signed for the club. He also hires a personal physical therapist to help with recovery.
Chelsea are in seventh place after seven league games, amassing 11 points, and their push for a top-four finish will depend heavily on Caicedo’s form and fitness. Whether the team can maintain this level without overtaxing it is a growing question at Stamford Bridge.
