It was in June 2023 when Brighton witnesses something unbelievable. First came Chelsea’s offer of 65,000,000 euros followed by Arsenal’s staggering 127,000,000 bid, and then the Blues returned to secure Moisés Caicedo’s signature in a transfer that could go down as the most expensive in Premier League history. That honor and responsibility currently rest on the shoulders of Enzo Fernández, whom Chelsea paid 121,000,000 for, while Manchester City shelled out 117,500,000 for Jack Grealish, which was somewhat expected. But Chelsea’s decision to splash a fixed 116,000,000 on Caicedo, in a deal that could rise to 133,500,000 with bonuses (and will surely surpass Enzo’s fee), shocked the football world.Best duel win rates in the Premier League this season (50+ contested):◎ 66.4% – Moisés Caicedo◎ 63.8% – Noussair Mazraoui◎ 63.6% – Antonee Robinson◎ 63.2% – Bruno Guimarães◎ 62.7% – Elliot Anderson pic.twitter.com/rSDLTwpmkQ— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 27, 2024 And Caicedo immediately found himself under immense pressure, with every move scrutinized. Fans gave him a lot of credit for turning down Liverpool after Jürgen Klopp confirmed the Ecuadorian’s move to Anfield was a done deal, but again – for that kind of money, Stamford Bridge expected a player who could do wonders on the pitch. However, handling such a price tag isn’t easy, especially when the whole team is struggling. Chelsea finished last season in sixth place in the Premier League table, a staggering 28 points behind City’s championship-winning squad.“He made a lot of mistakes, and everyone was asking: Why did we pay so much for this guy?” recalls John Obi Mikel, the celebrated Chelsea midfielder. Coach Mauricio Pochettino even had to defend him by drawing comparisons to Zinedine Zidane, although it was clear they were nothing alike. But as Pochettino pointed out, even Zidane struggled with the label of being the most expensive player ever.Liverpool was too late and it was impossible to reject Chelsea, reveals Caicedo“Zidane was 26 or 27 when he arrived at Real Madrid, and I think it took him seven or eight months to start playing at his best, because the expectations were enormous, and the adaptation was difficult. The pressure is insane“. Caicedo suffered. But he slowly found his rhythm. Though he had a slow start to the season, he finished it ranked seventh in the Premier League for blocked shots and eighth for tackles. He scored his first goal in the final match of the season, though that’s not his main strength, and he also registered four assists.“I started to improve in February. My agent, Spaniard Manuel Sierra, hired an analyst to help me position myself better. After every match, we’d sit down, and he would tell me what I needed to improve. He also helped me mentally. I felt I had to deliver because they paid so much money for me, and that mindset prevented me from showing my true self. Little by little, I gained confidence and played more boldly” Caicedo explains.Caicedo fulfills boyhood dream, Chelsea break record againHe entered the new season under Enzo Maresca’s command and continued to grow. Currently, he leads the Premier League in tackles won and ranks seventh in chances created, which is not typically his area of focus. In Saturday’s win over West Ham (3-1), he recorded his first assist, setting up Nicolas Jackson for the 2-0 lead.“We’re watching that Brighton player again. This was a ‘Kanté-like’ performance. He was everywhere. He’s an absolutely fantastic player, not just in disrupting the opposition but in linking play. I think he’ll one day become Chelsea’s captain,” notes John Obi Mikel, recognizing Caicedo’s transformation. Maresca is also satisfied. “A top player. He was very good against West Ham, but he’s been fantastic from the first day I arrived”. Now, Caicedo’s quality is no longer in question. The discussion has shifted to whether he’s worth that much money, but in modern football, logic is sometimes hard to find.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 6Saturday14:30: (5.30) Newcastle (4.00) Man.City (1.63)17:00: (1.22) Arsenal (7.25) Leicester (15.0)17:00: (2.30) Brentford (3.50) West Ham (3.25)17:00: (1.75) Chelsea (3.60) Brighton (4.90)17:00: (2.85) Everton (3.35) Crystal Palace (2.65)17:00: (2.45) Nott.Forest (3.40) Fulham (3.10)19:30: (7.75) Wolverhampton (4.80) Liverpool (1.40)Sunday16:00: (4.40) Ipswich (3.50) Aston Villa (1.85)18:30: (2.35) Man.Utd. (3.60) Tottenham (2.85)Monday22:00: (1.65) Bournemouth (3.80) Southampton (5.40)***odds are subject to change***
