Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea have finally reached an agreement to sign Moises Caicedo. The Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder will join The Blues on an eight-year deal with an option to extend an extra year into 2032. With a total package of £115 million agreed, it is a record-breaking fee for a British transfer. Medical tests have been booked for the player and an official unveiling is expected soon.
Romano Announces Moises Caicedo Deal Reached By Chelsea and Brighton
BREAKING: Moisés Caicedo to Chelsea, here we go! Agreement reached and sealed right now — it’s gonna British record transfer fee 🚨🔵🇪🇨 #CFC
£115m fee plus sell-on clause included for Brighton.
Medical tests, booked.
Caicedo will sign until June 2031 with option until 2032. pic.twitter.com/7O8whsRLdK
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 13, 2023
Late Night Negotiations Led to Completion of Deal
The two clubs had been locked in late night negotiations to complete the deal, according to Romano, which eventually led to a breakthrough and a record deal for the Brighton star. The West London club are set to pay more than the reported £110 million offer that Liverpool had made to The Seagulls, before Caicedo informed the club that he only wanted to join Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Read More: Chelsea Medical Team Now On Alert With Agreement for Star ‘Close’ – Deal Could Still Be Hijacked
Despite efforts to complete the deal before Sunday’s match against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, journalist David Ornstein confirmed before kick-off that a deal would not be confirmed until after the full-time whistle.
David Ornstein Releases Details of Chelsea Deal for Brighton Star
Following the confirmation of the transfer, Ornstein revealed the details of the agreed payments involved in the deal. Chelsea will pay a fixed £100 million fee for the player, with £15 million in add-on clauses available if certain targets are met.
These clauses are seen by Brighton as being “very achievable” according to the transfer specialist, with £5 million paid if the London club qualify for Europe, with the other £10 million tied in appearance related targets. It is unclear when the deadline for the European qualification clause is set or what the minimum appearance number for the other clauses are. It is understood that Roberto De Zerbi’s side will retain an unspecified sell-on clause for Caicedo.
Watch More: How Liverpool and Chelsea Are Destroying the Transfer Market
Chelsea – Liverpool Tie Proves Why Both Sides Wanted Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo has been widely acclaimed for his providing exceptional defensive cover for his teammates, as well as his ability to safely progress the ball through tightly contested midfield areas. Coaches’ Voice have labelled the 21-year-old ‘versatile and technically gifted’ and praised him for covering a large area defensively. In possession the Ecuadorian offers exceptional vertical passing which helps to change the tempo of attacks and break defensive lines.
It was evident during Sunday’s tie at Stamford Bridge that both Pochettino and Klopp’s side were in desperate need of a midfielder who could control the speed of the game and retain possession. The match was a messy affair defined by a high number of turnovers in possession and a general sense of chaos in the middle third for both clubs, despite a standout performance by Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez. It was clear from the performances of both teams why they had been so eager to sign the Caicedo.
With the completion of the summer’s most dramatic transfer saga, The Blues should see a huge difference in their control of the midfield area. Fans will hope that their record signing can be a crucial part of their charge for European qualification.
Image Credit: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0
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