Moisés Caicedo is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the Ecuador national team. Known for his defensive skills and passing, he became one of the most expensive footballers in history after his record-breaking transfer to Chelsea in 2023.
Full Name: Moisés Isaac Caicedo Corozo
Date of Birth: 2 November 2001
Age: 24 (as of 2025)
Place of Birth: Santo Domingo, Ecuador
Nationality: Ecuadorian
Position: Central midfielder, Right back
Current Club: Chelsea
Early Life and Background
Moisés Isaac Caicedo Corozo was born on November 2, 2001, in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, as the youngest of ten siblings. His family faced significant economic hardships, living in a modest neighborhood called Mujer Trabajadora in a simple pink house amid widespread poverty and local gang activity. His mother crafted flower arrangements for seasonal holidays while the household supplemented income by charging fees for a small parking lot.
Caicedo would play football on the scrubland pitches of his hometown where goals were marked out by piles of stones. As a child he met local football coach Iván Guerra, who would help Caicedo and his family by paying for his football boots, travel expenses and food. Given Caicedo’s sensitive nature, he was nicknamed “Niño Moi” by his teammates.
Caicedo was invited to play his first organised football at the Mujer Trabajadora soccer school by Guerra, and he played there between the ages of five and twelve. Initially a forward, Caicedo later developed into a midfielder, and at the age of thirteen joined local side Colorados Jaipadida, an affiliate of professional club ESPOLI.
Parents and Family
Moisés is the youngest of ten siblings. He has seven brothers and two sisters, though not all of them lived at home during his childhood since many had already moved out and started their own families by the time he was born. However, they visited regularly and remained close. The four brothers he lived with played a huge role in shaping who he became both as a footballer and as a person.
His brothers made enormous sacrifices for him. They went without food so they could buy him football boots. This is something Moisés has never forgotten and speaks about with deep gratitude. His parents, whose names have not been made public, worked incredibly hard to support their large family despite their limited means. The entire family believed in Moisés’s dream of becoming a professional footballer.
In 2016, one of his brothers arranged a trial for Moisés at Independiente del Valle, one of the best football academies in South America. This proved to be the turning point in his career. The Caicedo family remains very close today, and Moisés often returns to Santo Domingo to spend time with them.
Club Career
Independiente del Valle
After successfully passing his trial, Caicedo joined Independiente del Valle at age 14. He had to leave his hometown and travel to Sangolquí, a suburb of Quito high in the Andes mountains. The change was difficult as he left everything familiar behind, but he was determined to succeed.
His journey hit a major setback in 2017 when he suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee. The injury required multiple surgeries and kept him out of football for ten months. This was a devastating period, but Caicedo showed incredible mental strength to recover and return to the game.
After his recovery, he continued to impress in the youth teams. In 2019, he captained the Independiente del Valle youth team to win the Copa Mitad del Mundo, a youth tournament in Spain. His performances caught the attention of first team manager Miguel Ángel Ramírez, who later said that from the first day Caicedo trained with the senior squad, he was the best player in the team.
Caicedo made his professional debut on October 1, 2019, in a 1-0 Serie A win over L.D.U. Quito. Despite his young age, he quickly became an important player for the team. His manager trusted him so much that in 2020, he was flown back from an U-20 Copa Libertadores game in Paraguay just to play in a crucial Serie A match, then sent back to rejoin the youth team for the Copa Libertadores final, which they won against River Plate.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On February 1, 2021, Caicedo signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee that was not disclosed but reported to be around £4.5 million. He was just 19 years old. At the time, moving to Europe was a dream come true for him. However, the club immediately loaned him to Belgian side Beerschot for the rest of the season to gain more experience.
The loan spell in Belgium didn’t go as planned, and Brighton recalled him in January 2022 because they needed midfielders. He made his Premier League debut and gradually worked his way into the team. The 2022-23 season was his breakthrough year at Brighton. On September 4, 2022, he scored his first goal for the club in a 5-2 win over Leicester City.
In January 2023, Arsenal made multiple bids for him, including one worth £70 million, but Brighton refused to sell. Caicedo signed a new contract with Brighton until 2027, and at the end of the season, he won both Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards. He promised to give the awards to his parents, calling them his inspiration.
Chelsea
The summer of 2023 saw intense competition for Caicedo’s signature. Liverpool agreed a £111 million deal with Brighton, but Caicedo told them he wanted to join Chelsea instead. On August 14, 2023, Chelsea completed the signing on an eight-year contract with an option for one more year. The fee was £100 million initially, with £15 million in performance-related add-ons, making it a British transfer record of £115 million.
International Career
Caicedo made his Ecuador debut on October 9, 2020, at just 18 years old in a World Cup qualifier against Argentina. Four days later, on October 13, he scored his first international goal in a 4-2 win over Uruguay, becoming the youngest Ecuadorian to score for the national team at 18 years and 347 days. He also became the first player born in the 21st century to score in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.
He was selected for Ecuador’s squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In the final group match against Senegal on November 29, he scored the equalizer that would have sent Ecuador through to the knockout rounds, but Senegal scored again three minutes later to eliminate Ecuador.
Caicedo has also played in two Copa América tournaments for Ecuador. By November 2025, he had earned 57 caps and scored three goals for his country. He has been captain of the national team since September 2024.
Religion
Moisés Caicedo is a devout Christian. He was born to Christian parents in Ecuador, a country where the majority of people follow Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism. His name, Moisés, is the Spanish variant of Moses, a biblical name.
Personal Life
Moisés Caicedo has been in a relationship with Paola Salazar since they were teenagers. They met in 2017 when Caicedo was still playing for Independiente del Valle in Ecuador. Paola, who is 23 years old, is a model and social media influencer from Santo Domingo.
Salary
Upon joining Chelsea, Caicedo signed a long-term contract. He earns an estimated annual salary of £7.8 million, which translates to approximately £150,000 per week.
