One of the longer sagas of the summer has come to an end thanks to Chelsea’s successful transfer of Moises Caicedo.
The Ecuadorian international finished his medical on Monday after the Blues and Brighton reached an agreement on a deal that may reach £115 million on Sunday.
Caicedo joins on an eight-year deal with an option of a further year in place, having turned down Liverpool who had also come to an agreement with the Seagulls.
The Blues have reached an initial agreement for £100 million, with an additional £15 million in add-ons. According to club sources, the fee will likely equal what was paid for Enzo Fernandez in January, with half of the add-ons proving challenging to secure.
Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital secured their control of the club in May 2022, spending on transfers has surpassed £800 million thanks to Chelsea’s most significant acquisition of the summer.
Liverpool had a £111 million offer approved for Caicedo last Thursday, but they were unable to persuade him to relocate to Anfield. The Ecuadorian international has always preferred to sign with Chelsea, who will pay £100 million plus an additional £15 million in performance-related add-ons.
Additionally, Brighton has a sell-on clause for a player they signed on February 1, 2021, for an undisclosed sum that is believed to be £4.5 million, from the Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle.
Chelsea made Caicedo their top priority for the defensive midfield position, but Brighton turned down many offers from them. It took weeks for an agreement to be reached after a £70 million bid was turned down in the middle of July.
The decision is a continuation of Brighton’s track record of making substantial gains in the transfer market. For instance, last summer they sold Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool for £35 million after purchasing him for around £7 million, while previous summer Chelsea spent £55 million for Marc Cucurella, who cost £15.5 million to join.
Chelsea is competing with Liverpool to capture Southampton midfielder Roméo Lavia before they do. Although Chelsea, who are willing to pay £50 million plus add-ons, have agreed to a £60 million agreement, the Belgian international would want to sign with them.
Caicedo said: “I am so excited to be here at this big club and I didn’t have to think twice when Chelsea called me, I just knew I wanted to sign for the club. It’s a dream come true to be here and I can’t wait to get started with the team.”