EPL: Chelsea reach deal to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton for £115m
Ecuadorian footballer, Moises Caicedo is due to have a medical in London today, August 14, before a record transfer to Chelsea.
Widespread reports revealed that Chelsea will smash the British transfer record for the second time in six months by paying Brighton an eye-watering £115m for Caicedo, who is said to have already agreed personal terms on a mammoth eight-year contract in West London that includes the option for a further 12 months beyond that, stretching to 2032.
Chelsea will pay £100m plus £15m in performance-related add-ons after days of frantic negotiations with Brighton.
Brighton reportedly added a sell-on clause and have driven a hard bargain. They were adamant that Caicedo would not be sold for under £100m and rejected several lower bids from Chelsea who were in the race for his signature with Liverpool.
Liverpool had a £110m offer accepted by Brighton, but Caicedo rejected a switch to Anfield and made it clear he wanted to move to Stamford Bridge.
21-year-old Caicedo still had four years to run on his Brighton contract but told the club he wished to leave and made it clear he wanted to go to Stamford Bridge rather than Anfield.
He signed for Brighton in February 2021 for a reported fee of 4.5 million pounds ($5.71 million) and was loaned to Belgian club Beerschot in August that year. He was recalled by Brighton in January 2022 after 14 appearances in Belgium. Under coach Roberto De Zerbi, Caicedo blossomed in midfield last season.
Chelsea, who drew 1-1 with Liverpool yesterday, plan to pair Caicedo in midfield with their £107m January signing Enzo Fernandez. It means Mauricio Pochettino will have the two most expensive players in British football history at the heart of his team.
The Blues are also close to agreeing personal terms with Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise and hope to secure a deal worth around £45m for the 21-year-old.
They have also tied up a £17m deal with Santos for 18-year-old striker Deivid Washington, who will the move on loan to Todd Boehly’s new club Strasbourg in France.
Chelsea will also begin their search for a new goalkeeper after agreeing to let Kepa Arrizabalaga join Real Madrid on loan.
