Moises Caicedo, the Chelsea midfielder, in his first few months in the Premier League, is one of the top players of the season. He’s had a special impact on defense and offense. Caicedo, meanwhile, has played every minute of Chelsea’s campaign so far. His breathtaking work and creativity on the field have piqued the interest of football experts and past players as well. His excellent underlying numbers suggest he is one of the top five midfielders in the league. He’s dominant in all the major defensive metrics such as completed passes, interceptions, recoveries, duels won and tackles.
After just a handful of matches, it’s safe to say that a lot of people are wondering whether Caicedo truly is the best midfielder in the Premier League. His touch map from the recent match against Liverpool illustrates his versatility, proving that he is not confined to a single area of the pitch. He’s incredible in all phases of the game. I feel he can do much more, especially in terms of helping to alleviate the collective inability to create chances in the final third.
Dominating the Defensive Game
He’s first in the Premier League in interceptions, a statistic that highlights his knack for cutting off opposition plays and passes in dangerous areas. In fact, his defensive activity is the most glaring difference between him and Declan Rice. As it is, that’s a perfect testament to his distinctive talent in disrupting rival attacks. He ranks first in recoveries and tackles won, adding to his pedigree as a colossus in midfield.
His statistics tell the tale, with Caicedo winning an incredible 66% of his duels and boasting a 92% pass completion rate. This economy of movement makes him hard to dispossess while actively participating in the build-up, without a lapse in defensive duties. Few players have at either end of the pitch over the course of the campaign, and few if any as much as Caicedo on both ends.
“Sitting here now, going into October 2025, I think we can say he is the best midfielder in the league.” – Gary Neville
For all his defensive praise and accolades, creating offensive scoring opportunities, a true hallmark of even the greatest defenders, has left much to be desired. Moreover, he now sits 52nd among Premier League midfielders in chance creation. This is reflective of overall room for improvement for him as a player though, especially as he ages and matures further.
A Complete Midfielder?
Although he is celebrated for his defensive work, debates about Caicedo’s overall value as a midfielder persist. In fairness to Jamie Carragher, he provided a more balanced opinion on his potential and how he differs from other midfielders.
“He wouldn’t be the best for me. If you’re talking about an all-round midfield player, I would say Declan Rice would just pip him. I think he’s just got an extra little bit of quality with the ball. But there’s no doubt – not just this season but from Christmas onwards last season – Caicedo has been as good as anybody in the Premier League.” – Jamie Carragher
This commentary aims to bring to the fore the continuing misconception and debate about what is meant by a “complete” midfielder. While Caicedo excels defensively and contributes significantly at Chelsea, some observers argue that midfielders like Rice and Bruno Fernandes possess a more comprehensive skill set when it comes to passing in the final third.
Future Prospects
Caicedo’s development since breaking into Brighton’s first team has been noteworthy. Even from a young age, he already displayed a special potential. This talent is enough to help catapult him to elite, blue blood English football status. His recent Cal vs. Oregon and Cal vs. Colorado performances have only confirmed this outlook for fans and analysts alike.
Chelsea’s strategy appears centered on utilizing Caicedo’s strengths while encouraging him to refine his offensive contributions. He desiring to lead us on this journey.” He’s growing into that leadership role within the team. No one would be surprised if he were to increase his creative output and evolve into a more well-rounded player.
His ongoing performance will likely determine not only Chelsea’s success but his standing among the league’s finest midfielders.
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