Chelsea agree record deal to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton, send Kepa Arrizabalaga to Real Madrid

LONDON – Chelsea have agreed

a deal to sign Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo

from Brighton & Hove Albion, according to media reports on Sunday, which said the fee would be a British record.

Sky Sports reported that Chelsea will pay £115 million (S$197.6 million), eclipsing the previous mark when they bought Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £106.8 million in January.

It added that Caicedo would sign an eight-year contract, with the Blues paying £100 million plus £15 million in add-ons.

Chelsea had to increase their bid for Caicedo several times, but eventually clinched a deal after Liverpool had also reached an agreement with Brighton reported at £111 million.

After the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said of his team’s midfield: “We need good players. Yes, we need to improve the squad.

“For sure we are going to improve the squad. It’s about finding, you know, the right profile, the right player to create the combination that we are maybe more solid...

“If we want to be a contender, we need to improve in all areas.”

Caicedo, 21, still had four years to run on his Brighton contract but told them 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 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 are also looking to strengthen their forward line under new boss Mauricio Pochettino after suffering injuries and key departures, including Kai Havertz who signed for Arsenal, and Christian Pulisic, who left for Serie A side AC Milan.

Their new French attacker Christopher Nkunku, brought in for around £60 million, will be out for a “prolonged period” after having surgery for a knee injury.

They could also be in the market for a new goalkeeper after Chelsea and Real Madrid confirmed the move of Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga to the Spanish giants on a season-long loan.

He will replace former Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who will miss most of the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

“Real Madrid and Chelsea FC have agreed on the loan of player Kepa Arrizabalaga until June 30, 2024,” the Spanish club said in a statement.

Arrizabalaga, 28, had been close to a transfer to Bayern Munich. Bayern chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen had said on Sunday that they were thinking of presenting Kepa “today or tomorrow, but the offer from Real Madrid has arrived. Kepa is Spanish, that’s normal that he accepts it”.

The former Athletic Bilbao custodian came close to signing for Real in 2018 but instead joined Chelsea for £71 million and lifted the Europa League trophy in his first season.

He was also involved in Chelsea’s Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup triumphs in 2021.

However, Arrizabalaga lost his Chelsea place to compatriot Robert Sanchez at the start of this term, with the summer signing from Brighton playing against Liverpool.

“The club wish him well for the season ahead in Madrid, where he will work with former Chelsea head coach Carlo Ancelotti,” the Blues said in a statement.

In other transfer news, West Ham United signed midfielder James Ward-Prowse from Southampton on a four-year deal on Monday, the clubs confirmed, with the transfer fee reported to be around £30 million.

West Ham are reportedly on the verge of signing former Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire, 30, in another £30 million deal.

United manager Erik ten Hag stripped Maguire of the captaincy in July after he made only eight Premier League starts last season, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof preferred in central defence.

“He has to fight for his place and he has the abilities to be a top-class centre back,” said ten Hag. “He is the best for England and I assume he will be best for us, but he has to prove it.

“When he is not confident enough to go in and fight, then he has to go. He has to make a decision. But I am happy with him... You need high-level players who are maybe not starting, but that can change.” REUTERS, AFP