Fast-forward two years and the 23-year-old Ecuador international is being mentioned as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and, perhaps, the world.
Caicedo starred in Chelsea’s 2-1 home win against Premier League champions Liverpool before the international break, powering in the opening goal in a performance that BBC Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer said “had everything”, including a “bit of Frank Lampard and N’Golo Kante”.
And Caicedo now looks poised to join the list of great Chelsea midfielders, having cited Kante and Claude Makelele as inspirations in 2023.
He is the joint top-scoring midfielder in the Premier League this season, tied with team-mate Enzo Fernandez at three goals, making them Chelsea’s leading scorers.
Is Caicedo the best midfielder in England? How well is he regarded at Chelsea? And is there concern that, like star attacker Cole Palmer, Chelsea may be over-reliant on him?
