Moises Caicedo names two Chelsea heroes who helped inspire his £115m transfer

Chelsea have formally signed highly-rated holding midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton for £115million, with the former Brighton star naming two ex-Blues as big inspirations

New Chelsea signing Moises Caicedo has named two Blues heroes who helped inspire his dream £115million transfer to Stamford Bridge from Premier League rivals Brighton this summer.

The 21-year-old is now formally a Chelsea player after his blockbuster move was rubber-stamped and Caicedo has been shown around the stadium and training ground. It was through a video filmed during his first day in the office, at Cobham, that the Ecuador international revealed his admiration for N'Golo Kante and Claude Makelele.

Caicedo spoke about Kante shaping his game and meeting Makelele, although he will not have the chance to play alongside Kante after the Frenchman moved to Saudi Arabia in his own high-profile transfer this summer. Caicedo has, effectively, been welcomed to the Blues as Kante's long-term replacement.

Expected to play a lead role in the engine room with World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez this season, with another signing in Romeo Lavia on the way in that same position, Caicedo has also expressed an excitement at, potentially, working in tandem with Enzo moving forward.

In a social media video uploaded by Chelsea, Caicedo said: "I was in Ecuador with my family watching. I was so excited [watching Chelsea]. N'Golo Kante, he was my inspiration, always... Makelele. I met him [Makelele] already, it was fantastic, I was so nervous.

"I know Marc Cucurella, funny guy. If I played against him [Enzo Fernandez] then I won! I'm so excited to work with him on the pitch, I'm sure we are going to understand each other."

Having progressed through the youth system at Independiente, Caicedo touched down in the UK with Brighton in February 2021. Initially sent out on loan to Belgian side Beerschot, he made 53 appearances for the Seagulls in all competitions with two goals and three assists.

Caicedo, 21, earned rave reviews for his displays on the south coast and was subject to widespread interest in his signature before Chelsea won that particular race. Arsenal wanted the midfielder in January before what has been an intense summer transfer window bidding war between Chelsea and Liverpool.