Moises Caicedo: Rising Star in Premier League Midfield
When Chelsea acquired Moises Caicedo for an initial £100 million from Brighton in 2023, the decision raised many eyebrows.
Fast forward two years, and the 23-year-old Ecuadorian international is now regarded as one of the top midfielders not only in the Premier League but potentially in the world.
Caicedo delivered an impressive performance in Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool before the international break, scoring the opening goal. BBC Match of the Day analyst Alan Shearer praised his display, noting it “had everything,” including traits reminiscent of Frank Lampard and N'Golo Kante.
With Kante and Claude Makelele as inspirations, Caicedo appears on track to join the ranks of Chelsea's legendary midfielders.
This season, he is tied as the top-scoring midfielder in the Premier League, alongside teammate Enzo Fernandez, with three goals, making them Chelsea's leading scorers.
Is Caicedo the best midfielder in England? How is he perceived at Chelsea? And is there a risk that, similar to star attacker Cole Palmer, Chelsea may become overly reliant on him?
Is Caicedo the Best Midfielder in the Premier League?
The statistics indicate that Caicedo is very much in the conversation for the league's elite midfielders.
No midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues has recorded more tackles (28) or interceptions (18) this season than Caicedo.
His 28 tackles account for 23% of Chelsea's total tackles, marking the second-highest ratio by a player in a season that data analysts Opta have tracked since 2006-07. Only Burnley's Josh Cullen has more defensive blocks among midfielders.
Since last season, Caicedo has made more tackles (142) than any other player without being sent off or suspended for yellow card accumulation, highlighting his precise tackling ability.
He outperforms Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch in both tackle counts and duel success rates (59%), both of whom are often regarded as among the league's best midfielders.
However, it remains uncertain whether Caicedo can maintain this level of attacking output. His three goals this season have come from an expected goals (xG) of 0.5, including two from outside the box, tying him with Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo for the league's highest total.
Since the start of last season, Rice has contributed more offensively among midfielders, with higher tallies for goals, assists, and passes into the box, aided by his set-piece responsibilities at Arsenal.
In contrast, Caicedo excels defensively, while Gravenberch offers a balance of defensive and attacking capabilities. Other notable midfielders include former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is currently sidelined due to injury, and Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
The Unbreakable Caicedo
A recent report from Fifpro highlighted that Caicedo endures an “unequal workload” compared to other players. The report noted that he traveled nearly 25,000 kilometers to participate in four matches over 14 days for both club and country in October 2024.
During this period, Caicedo played a total of 360 minutes across two continents and three countries, with an average recovery time of 110.8 hours, while covering more than half the length of the equator. It also stated that he made 27 border crossings and spent 175.6 hours in transit last season.
Chelsea players had only 20 days off this summer—eight fewer than recommended—and just 13 days of pre-season training—15 fewer than advised—due to their Club World Cup-winning campaign, which added seven matches in the US.
Following the victory over Liverpool, assistant manager Willy Caballero remarked, “He has played a lot of games with the Club World Cup and with the national team, so we need to manage him sometimes.”
Since then, Caicedo has received his first break from international duty since joining Chelsea. Sources close to him have described him as “exhausted” in recent weeks.
Nevertheless, Caicedo remains committed to his international responsibilities, having helped Ecuador secure second place in the South American qualifying group, ahead of Brazil, to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Growing up in poverty as the youngest of ten siblings in Ecuador, Caicedo has elevated himself and his family through football, becoming a national icon. A commentator recently referred to him as “our [Michael] Jordan” in Ecuador.
Previously focused solely on football, Caicedo is now capitalizing on sponsorship opportunities, signing deals worth millions with nine brands in the past year, including Banco Guayaquil and a Chinese internet provider.
A children's cartoon titled 'Mini Moi' is also in development to share his story with Latin American audiences.
Are Chelsea Over-reliant on Caicedo?
As one of only seven outfield players to start all 38 Premier League matches last season, Caicedo became the first Chelsea midfielder to achieve this feat since Lampard in the 2004-05 season.
This season, he has started every Premier League and Champions League match, only being rested for the 2-1 victory over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup.
Concerns have arisen regarding Chelsea's potential over-reliance on Caicedo, given his heavy workload, an issue the club attempted to address during the summer transfer window.
Chelsea signed midfielder Dario Essugo from Sporting as a backup option and recalled Andrey Santos from an 18-month loan at Strasbourg. However, both players are currently injured—Essugo more seriously, potentially sidelined until January—while Romeo Lavia has made only one substitute appearance this season.
Chelsea views Caicedo as indispensable, with reports suggesting they plan to enhance his contract, which is set to run until 2032.
The Blues secured Caicedo's signature from Brighton in 2023 for an initial £100 million plus £15 million in add-ons, outbidding Liverpool after Arsenal's earlier bid of £60 million.
Initially criticized for his hefty price tag, Caicedo sought assistance from a psychologist, which has helped him adapt to the high-pressure environment at Stamford Bridge.
Last season, he was voted both the players' and fans' player of the season at Chelsea.
His closest advisors include his brothers, Marco and Miguel, who manage his career without a formal agent, and his mother Carmen, who was present at his contract signing. He also works with a private physiotherapist for recovery at home.
Soft-spoken, deeply religious, and a member of Chelsea's PlayStation club, Caicedo's on-field aggression contrasts with his off-field demeanor. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has described him as the “best midfielder in the Premier League.”
Chelsea's management and fans have long supported this view, with manager Enzo Maresca stating six months ago that Caicedo is “one of the best, if not the best, midfielder in the world.”
As Chelsea aims for a top-four finish or better, Caicedo will be crucial, having helped the club earn 11 points from seven matches, placing them seventh ahead of Saturday's match against Nottingham Forest.