€100m Stamford Bridge Star
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Chelsea enters Wednesday’s Champions League match against Qarabag with great optimism, aiming to build on their strong performance across all competitions. Except for an unexpected 2-1 loss to Sunderland in the Premier League last month, Enzo Maresca’s team has achieved victory in their last six matches, propelling the West London club to seventh in the English Premier League and 11th in the Champions League group stage.
Several players have shone for the Stamford Bridge side. New arrivals Estêvão and João Pedro have injected fresh energy into Chelsea’s attack, while attacking midfielder Enzo Fernández has been showcasing his best form since his arrival in 2023. Among all players in Maresca’s squad, perhaps the most remarkable progress has come from Moisés Caicedo. Once regarded as one of the Premier League’s top defensive midfielders, the Colombian has elevated his game recently and is proving himself to be a potential world-class talent, with abilities that extend well beyond just tackles and interceptions.
Caicedo Soaring to New Heights This Season
Caicedo undoubtedly ranks among the Premier League’s finest in terms of pressuring opposing midfielders and thwarting counterattacks. According to Opta, the 24-year-old leads Maresca’s squad in tackles, interceptions, and blocks this season. However, what has Chelsea supporters buzzing is how he has combined his solid defensive responsibilities with an increased attacking presence in the final third.
In his first 14 matches of the season across all competitions, Caicedo has scored four goals and provided one assist. His assist came during Chelsea’s narrow 1-0 victory over Tottenham last weekend, where he intercepted a pass from Micky Van de Ven and set up Pedro for the match-winning goal. As illustrated in the graph above, Caicedo averages 0.41 goals and assists per 90 minutes this season, a record higher than any other season in the past five years.
Notably, Caicedo’s attacking statistics have consistently improved since he joined the Premier League with Brighton in 2021. As he has gained experience, he has become increasingly confident not just in defending his own goal, but also in contributing to offensive plays. This evolution has made him one of the most exciting box-to-box players in the Premier League this season, with his market value rising from €75 million in May of last year to an impressive €100 million today.
