New Chelsea signing Moises Caicedo is in the running for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The Ecuador international received the nomination just three days after completing a mammoth move from Brighton to Stamford Bridge for a British record transfer fee that could reach £115million with add-ons.
Caicedo was superb in his only full season at the Amex Stadium last term, making 37 appearances in the Premier League and demonstrating his valuable versatility by covering at full-back in addition to his usual starring role in the heart of midfield.
The 21-year-old was a crucial member of the high-flying Seagulls side that withstood the loss of manager Graham Potter to Chelsea early in the season to flourish further under successor Roberto De Zerbi, who, while playing an attractive brand of football, achieved European qualification for the first time in the club’s history courtesy of a hugely impressive sixth-placed finish.
Caicedo signed a new contract at Brighton after being the subject of multiple bids from Arsenal during the latter stages of the January transfer window, but always had a gentleman’s agreement that he could move on this summer and Chelsea eventually secured a record deal for their No1 target after weeks of protracted negotiations and a late battle with Liverpool, who saw their own £110m bid accepted last week before being snubbed by the player.
He was later handed the No25 shirt that had been retired for 20 years since the exit of icon Gianfranco Zola, who gave childhood Chelsea fan Caicedo his blessing to wear it.
Caicedo, who will soon be joined at Chelsea by another new midfielder in Romeo Lavia and Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise plus Santos striker Deivid Washington, will compete for PFA Young Player of the Year honours with former Brighton team-mate Evan Ferguson.
Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland is nominated for both the main and young player awards, along with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
Joining Arsenal team-mate Saka on the young player shortlist is Gunners winger Gabriel Martinelli and Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, who won the European Under-21 Championship with England in Georgia over the summer.
