Moisés Caicedo

Moisés Caicedo is Ecuador's most important player and one of the best defensive midfielders in world football. His £115 million move from Brighton to Chelsea in 2023 set a British transfer record, and he has justified the fee with relentless pressing, elite ball-recovery, and an ability to dictate tempo from deep. Developed at Independiente del Valle, he arrived at Brighton as a teenager and immediately looked ready for the Premier League. For Ecuador, he is the engine around whom everything is built — his presence allows the team to press aggressively while maintaining structural discipline. Still only 24, his ceiling remains extraordinary.