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    Moises Caicedo named world’s top U23 holding midfielder.

    Emma TeeBy No Comments2 Mins Read

    • Moises Caicedo named best Under-23 holding midfielder in the world ahead of rival talents

    Moises Caicedo named world's top U23 holding midfielder.
    Moises Caicedo named world’s top U23 holding midfielder.

    Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo has been recognized as the best holding midfielder under the age of 23 in the world by the CIES Football Observatory for the 2023/24 season.

    Caicedo joined Chelsea for a British record fee of £115 million in the summer of 2023, after impressing in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion. While Liverpool initially reached an agreement with Brighton for a slightly lower fee, Chelsea’s increased bid secured the Ecuadorian’s signature.

    Despite only having one full Premier League season under his belt, Caicedo’s performances earned him a rating of 86.7 out of 100 by the CIES Football Observatory, placing him ahead of notable young talents like Eduardo Camavinga (83.1), Warren Zaire-Emery (81.6), Kobbie Mainoo (80.2), and Ryan Gravenberch (79.0).

    Though Chelsea struggled during the 2023/24 season, Caicedo’s individual displays affirmed his status as one of the brightest young midfielders in world football.

    Skeptics were quick to highlight the contributions of other young stars like Eduardo Camavinga, who played a key role in Real Madrid’s rare La Liga and Champions League double, and Warren Zaire-Emery, who made 43 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, helping them win Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. Similarly, Kobbie Mainoo’s breakthrough at Manchester United coincided with their FA Cup triumph.

    Despite these achievements, Moisés Caicedo’s performances appeared to align more closely with the criteria set by the CIES Football Observatory, enabling him to score the highest.

    The 22-year-old has been a pivotal figure for Chelsea this season, playing almost every minute in the Premier League. He has only been rested for the Carabao Cup and the second leg of the club’s Conference League play-off. His leadership qualities have also shone through, having captained the team twice, against Bournemouth and Servette.