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.

Top U2⃣3⃣ holding midfielders* 🌐
🥇 #MoisesCaicedo 🇪🇨 (#Chelsea)
🥈 #EduardoCamavinga 🇫🇷 (#RealMadrid)
🥉 #WarrenZaireEmery 🇫🇷 (#PSG)
4⃣ #KobbieMainoo 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (#ManUtd)
5⃣ #RyanGravenberch 🇳🇱 (#LFC)
* Last year performances
More 👉 https://t.co/P0Ohpx4Mt7 pic.twitter.com/DZk6jdtMzh

— CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) September 24, 2024

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.

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Moises Caicedo has revealed that a phone conversation with Enzo Fernandez played a crucial role in his decision to choose Chelsea over Liverpool this summer.

While Chelsea and Brighton engaged in prolonged negotiations and Liverpool initially secured a fee agreement for Caicedo during the transfer window, the player opted not to engage in discussions with Liverpool.

Instead, he focused exclusively on Chelsea, patiently waiting until the Blues reached a British-record fee of £115m to secure his move to Stamford Bridge.

Apart from the commitment he had already given, Caicedo’s decision was influenced by a phone call with Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea’s former record signing. This additional factor seems to have played a significant role in swaying Caicedo towards choosing Chelsea over Liverpool.

“I called and told him that he had to accept and come because Chelsea is a great and ambitious club,” Fernandez revealed. “And I have to thank God for giving me the chance to play alongside him at Chelsea because we all know the great player he is, but he is also a fantastic person, so I’m thankful he chose Chelsea.”

On the impact of that conversation, Caicedo explained: “It was a nice chat. I mean, the fact that a world champion was phoning you, one of the best midfielders in the world… receiving that call was very nice and he convinced me to come here.

“He said it was a great club, that there are many young players, there was a togetherness here. I have always enjoyed the bond in a team because I think that, if there is that bond, we can deal with any situation we may face: pressure, everything. So, that’s what motivated me to come here.

“Now, I’m enjoying playing alongside him, in training as well, in rondos. We are always together. So, I’m very happy and I’m trying to do things better every day, as Enzo said, to be a good example for everyone at the club.”

The duo, appearing on Sky Sports’ Big Interview, have already backed Chelsea to re-establish themselves as one of the Premier League’s top teams once again, with both Caicedo and Fernandez keen to ensure they go down in club history for all the right reasons.

“I want to win many trophies with this club, the Champions League, the Premier League,” Caicedo said.

“I want to win every possible trophy there is and be part of the generation that will make history with this club because this is a very historic club, but there is a new generation. What we all want is to win many trophies with this club and be remembered forever.”

Fernandez added: “I won many trophies so young and in such a short time as a professional, but that’s already in the past. I already forgot about it and we’re now on a quest for more.

“I’m obviously here to keep winning trophies at club level, which is the most important thing, and I hope we’ll win many titles at Chelsea.”

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Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has jokingly claimed that he had no choice but to start Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the recent London derby against Arsenal. Pochettino quipped that the club’s owners would have “killed” him if he had rested them.

Both Fernandez and Caicedo, who were each signed for well over £100 million, played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea initially took a two-goal lead in the match through a Cole Palmer penalty and an over-hit cross from Mykhailo Mudryk, but Robert Sanchez’s error allowed Declan Rice to close the gap. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score the equalizer in the final minutes of the game.

Despite Fernandez and Caicedo returning late from international duty with Argentina and Ecuador, Pochettino decided to start both players in the pivotal midfield positions for the match.

Pochettino acknowledged that neither midfielder was in good form but that they both had to play in his post-game news conference.

“Today, Caicedo and Enzo arrived after two games in [South] America and they were not fresh. But they are important players for us,” he said.

“So now we are going to have a week to work and for sure they are going to be better and improve.

“It’s crazy for players to come back from America on Wednesday and play on Saturday. But if I say ‘OK, I’m going to give them a rest’ you will kill me, for sure if they don’t play. And the owner also!

“It’s really tough to arrive like that. I hope now they can recover and train and in one week be at their best.”

The next game for Chelsea is on Saturday at noon when they host Brentford, a neighboring team from west London, at Stamford Bridge.

Following their promotion to the Premier League, the Blues have lost both home matches against the Bees, with Thomas Frank’s team winning 4-1 in April 2022 and 2-0 in April 2023.

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Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that summer addition Romeo Lavia has yet to resume running as he recovers from an ankle ailment.

Lavia, a £58 million summer transfer from Southampton, didn’t make his Chelsea debut until after the international break in September because he wasn’t fully healthy when he arrived at Stamford Bridge.

Lavia was unfortunately forced to return to the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in practice, and sources stated the 19-year-old could not be able to make his eagerly anticipated debut until beyond this month’s international window. Chelsea will play again on October 21 against Arsenal after taking on Burnley on Saturday.

As Pochettino has stated, Lavia is still a long way from being fit, so it now seems like he will have to wait even longer for his first appearance in a Chelsea jersey.

“I don’t believe [Lavia will be back after the international break],” Pochettino admitted. “I cannot tell you but he is still not running. After the international break he will not be back.”

Lavia’s situation was disappointing, but Pochettino reassured Chelsea supporters that Moises Caicedo, another costly midfielder, should play against Burnley.

In the closing minutes of Chelsea’s victory against Fulham, when Mykhailo Mudryk went down with an injury, Caicedo hobbled out, but Pochettino anticipates both players to contribute against Burnley on Saturday.

“Both in the squad,” Pochettino confirmed. “We will decide whether they are available from the start or not.”

Caicedo struggled at first in Chelsea but rapidly seemed to have settled comfortably, winning Pochettino over in the process.

“Of course, it is about time,” Pochettino said of Chelsea’s record signing. “It is a player you already know from the Premier League but with no pre-season. In a situation where he was not involved for a few months. It is normal he needs time to settle in a new club.

“Even if you are happy and everything is perfect, always it is difficult but the situation that happened in the summer and now it is like pre-season.

“We are happy, we think he was really good against Fulham. Unlucky a little bit because he now needs to go on international duty and play and travel, and it is always difficult to go to South America. It doesn’t help the situation but we need to accept and try to help him in a different way.”

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Mauricio Pochettino has stated that Moises Caicedo will have a fitness test on Saturday to see whether he can play against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Ecuador midfielder returned from the international break with a knock that caused him to miss the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth, but Caicedo was also not seen at Chelsea training this week, raising concerns that he may have picked up something more severe.

Caicedo’s name, though, was missing from Chelsea’s injury update on Friday.

“We need to assess Moi [on Saturday],” Pochettino said in his press conference. “He was training in an individual way, not with the team.

“We need to assess him to see if he can be involved on Sunday.”

There was also good news regarding Armando Broja, the striker who had knee surgery in December and may be ready to play this Sunday.

“Armando can be involved maybe,” Pochettino added. “It’s not sure. We need to assess him tomorrow.”

Chelsea’s continued goal drought may be greatly helped by Broja’s comeback, but Pochettino urged caution as the academy product regained his footing after nine months on the sidelines.

“Broja arrives and maybe will be involved at the weekend but it’s after nine months of not competing,” he said. “We cannot put responsibility on him. The responsibility must be on the team and the collective effort. We cannot expect Broja will score with every single touch, he needs to feel the competition.”

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Chelsea record signing Moises Caicedo has been advised to “prepare much better” for games at a “big club” after his disastrous debut.

Caicedo had a shaky, mistake-filled display against West Ham in his first start since his British record transfer from Brighton over the weekend.

Even worse, he gave up a late penalty that Lucas Paqueta converted, and at the end of the game, he was seen on his knees, visibly upset by his performance. Former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly says that he must now perform better now that he has moved on to a “big club” after leaving Brighton.

 Desailly told Sky Sports: “You don’t need to talk about it. We better start to put the mindset into the system , you need to adjust your implication. You are in a big club now! And in a big club you need to prepare yourself much better for each game. Now you digest the idea of £100m and you are now back home you need to be committed.”

Although Mauricio Pochettino stated after the game that his new signing “did well” in his debut, it is clear that his lack of preseason preparation had an impact on his performance. The Blues’ next game is against Luton on Friday.

Given that Chelsea will play AFC Wimbledon five days after the Luton game at Stamford Bridge in the League Cup second round, it will be interesting to see if Caicedo is given the start.

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The 19-year-old signs a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with the original deal worth £53 million plus an additional $5 million.

Following Liverpool’s unsuccessful attempts to sign both Lavia and Caicdeo this summer, Chelsea’s first-choice midfield this season will likely consist of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Lavia, a group that Chelsea supporters have already dubbed the “LFC midfield.”

On completing his move to Chelsea, Lavia said: “I’m really happy join Chelsea and be a part of this exciting project. It’s an amazing football club with a great history and I’m really excited to get started.

“I can’t wait to meet all my new team-mates and build a chemistry together to achieve great things together.”

Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley added: “We are very pleased to welcome Romeo to Chelsea. He demonstrated his quality in the Premier League last season at Southampton, showing maturity despite his young age, and is a player we have monitored for some time.

“We believe he is ready to make an impact at Chelsea throughout the current campaign, and in the coming years.”

He broke into Belgium’s first-team setup but was unable to help the Saints stave off relegation. He did not play a minute for them in the Championship ahead of his exit from St Mary’s.

When Chelsea visits London rivals West Ham United on Sunday, Lavia might make his debut.

Welcome to Chelsea, Romeo Lavia! 😁

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 18, 2023

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Michael Olise is said to have signed a new contract with Crystal Palace after Chelsea withdrew their offer as the Eagles mulled taking legal action.

After the Stamford Bridge club apparently activated Olise’s £35 million ($45 million) release clause this week, it appeared that he would be moving to Chelsea.

The 21-year-old did, however, agree to a brand-new, four-year contract with Palace on Thursday.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Eagles considered going to a tribunal with Chelsea over their approach for the France Under-21 international – something they were reportedly unhappy about. As a result, the west London outfit pulled out of a move and Olise extended his stay at Selhurst Park.

In the summer transfer market, Chelsea has mostly prevailed.

While they had to pay more than they expected for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and are set to beat Liverpool to Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, the midfielders cost a combined £173 million ($221 million).

They have also recouped more than £200 million ($255 million) in player exits in the last month or so, but Olise is one player who escaped.

Both teams have until September 1 to bolster their rosters because the transfer window is still open.

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Chelsea has confirmed that Moises Caicedo will wear the team’s No. 25 jersey.

The last occupant, the legendary Gianfranco Zola, gave the number special meaning at Stamford Bridge.

No one has taken the shirt despite a wide variety of high-profile deals since the Italian left West London in 2003, despite the fact that it was the one Caicedo wore for Brighton.

The 21-year-old contacted Zola to ask permission to the shirt, to which the former Chelsea star responded: “Thank you for the message, Moises. I hope it will bring to you as many pleasures as it brought to me. Good luck.”

From Gianfranco to Moises. A special handover. 🤝 https://t.co/DO1d9yHnEC pic.twitter.com/wsYFFMoMIe

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 16, 2023

Caicedo will now be the first to wear it since Zola after completing a £115m move to Chelsea earlier this week.

Romeo Lavia, a Belgian international, as well as the Ecuadorian international, are both expected to make their debuts against West Ham on Sunday.

The Southampton midfielder is set for a medical at Cobham after the clubs agreed a fee worth in the region of £58m for the former Manchester City youngster.

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• Which two Chelsea icons did Moises Caicedo grow up idolizing?

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Nigerian artist and music producer, Phillip Kayode Moses, known by his stage name Pheelz, expressed his excitement as Chelsea FC from the Premier League used his music to unveil the signing of midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The London-based club revealed the acquisition of Caicedo in a social media announcement video on Monday, featuring Pheelz’s track “Finesse,” which also includes BNXN (formerly Buju).

Taking to his Twitter page, Pheelz, who has transformed from being just a producer to a singer reacted with a post saying, “Not @ChelseaFC using my song to announce the most expensive signing in the EPL right now! BURST MY HEAD.”

See the post below:

Not @ChelseaFC using my song to announce the most expensive signing in the EPL right now! BURST MY HEAD 😫🤟🏾🌎

— Pheelz🐘🤟🏾 (@Pheelz) August 14, 2023

In other news, rapper Odumodublvck expressed his delight as Arsenal utilized one of his popular tracks to announce the signing of Declan Rice, the England international.

Arsenal signed Rice from West Ham for a club-record fee of £105 million. Arsenal took to Twitter to announce the arrival, sharing a video of the 24-year-old showcasing his football skills while Odumodublvck’s song ‘Declan Rice’ played in the background, captioning it as “A new chapter begins.”

Odumodublvck shared the tweet, expressing pride.

He wrote, “Massive. Abj stand up. Declan Rice.”

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