Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Moisés Caicedo

How Moisés Caicedo built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Moisés Caicedo is an Ecuadorian professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Chelsea in the Premier League and for the Ecuador national team. A dynamic and versatile player, Caicedo is known for his strong tackling, work rate, and ability to contribute both defensively and offensively. He is considered one of Ecuador's brightest footballing talents and a key player for both club and country.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2016: Joined Independiente del Valle for trials

In 2016, Caicedo joined Ecuadorian Serie A side Independiente del Valle for trials and was successful.

2019: Copa Mitad del Mundo Title and First Team Debut

In 2019, Caicedo captained the Independiente del Valle youth team to the Copa Mitad del Mundo title in Spain and made his debut for the first team in a 1–0 win over L.D.U. Quito. First team manager Miguel Ángel Ramírez praised Caicedo's exceptional talent.

October 2020: Debut for Ecuador and First International Goal

On 9 October 2020, Caicedo debuted for the Ecuador senior squad in a loss to Argentina. On 13 October 2020, he scored his first goal in a victory against Uruguay.

2020: Flown Back for Serie A Match

In 2020, Caicedo was flown back from an U-20 Copa Libertadores game in Paraguay to play in a Serie A match against L.D.U. Quito, which Independiente del Valle won 3–2. He then returned to play in the 2020 U-20 Copa Libertadores final, winning against River Plate.

2020: Caicedo Debuted for Ecuador National Team

Since 2020, Caicedo became a full international player, earning over 50 caps for Ecuador. He was selected for two Copa América tournaments and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

2020: Key Player for Independiente del Valle

Throughout his time at Independiente del Valle, Caicedo was mostly deployed as a defensive midfielder but also played as a box-to-box midfielder due to Cristian Pellerano's presence. In 2020, Caicedo's performances drew acclaim, particularly after scoring in a 5–0 win against Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores.

February 2021: Caicedo Joined Brighton & Hove Albion

In February 2021, Caicedo joined Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee after beginning his career at Independiente del Valle.

August 2021: Loan to Beerschot

On August 31, 2021, Caicedo joined Beerschot of the Belgium top flight on a season-long loan.

January 2022: Recalled from Loan

On 12 January 2022, Caicedo was recalled from his loan at Beerschot and returned to England due to shortages of central midfielders at Brighton.

2022: First Goal of the Season

Caicedo scored his first goal in the 2022–23 season in his and Brighton's sixth match of the season on 4 September, a 5–2 home win over Leicester City.

2022: Caicedo selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Caicedo was selected for the nation's squads for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

2022: 2022 FIFA World Cup

In November, Caicedo was named in Ecuador's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. During the last group match against Senegal on 29 November, Caicedo scored an equaliser; however, Senegal scored again, eliminating Ecuador.

2022: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification loss

On 9 October 2020, Caicedo debuted for the Ecuador senior squad in a 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification loss to Argentina.

January 2023: Transfer Request

During January 2023, Caicedo's agents released a statement announcing his desire to leave Brighton, thanking the fans and expressing his dream to be the most decorated player in Ecuadorian history. He was linked with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

January 2023: Arsenal Bid Rejected

On 30 January 2023, Brighton rejected a second bid from Arsenal for Caicedo worth approximately £70m and told Caicedo to rest until the end of the transfer window.

March 2023: New Contract with Brighton

On 3 March 2023, Caicedo signed a new long term contract with Brighton until 2027, with the option for another year.

June 2023: Chelsea Bid Rejected

On 27 June 2023, it was reported that Brighton had rejected a bid from Chelsea worth £80m for Caicedo.

August 2023: Caicedo Joined Chelsea

In August 2023, Caicedo joined Chelsea for a reported fee of £100 million.

August 2023: Liverpool and Chelsea Bids

In August 2023, Liverpool agreed a £111m fee with Brighton for Caicedo, but Chelsea offered a higher bid of £115m, inclusive of add-ons.

May 2024: First Goal for Chelsea

On 19 May 2024, Caicedo scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 2–1 win over Bournemouth.

August 2024: Captained Chelsea for the First Time

On 22 August 2024, Caicedo captained Chelsea for the first time against Servette during the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League play-off round.

November 2024: First Goal of the Season

On 3 November 2024, Caicedo scored his first goal of the season with a volley in a 1–1 draw against Manchester United.

2024: Called up to 2024 Copa América Squad

Caicedo was called up to the final 26-man Ecuador squad for the 2024 Copa América.

May 2025: Goal in UEFA Conference League Final and Player of the Season Award

On 28 May 2025, Caicedo scored in a 4–1 victory over Real Betis in the 2025 UEFA Conference League final and was later awarded Chelsea Player of the Season.