Chelsea's offer of £70 million for Moises Caicedo is rejected by Brighton.

 In January, amid interest from Arsenal, the 21-year-old Ecuadorian international stated a desire to leave Brighton.

Brighton has once more turned down a Chelsea offer for midfielder Moises Caicedo, this one said to be in the neighbourhood of £70 million. Back in January, the 21-year-old Ecuadorian international revealed a wish to depart Brighton, and Arsenal at the time displayed interest.

Caicedo requested that Brighton give in to his demands, but the club refused and in March signed him to a contract extension that would keep him with them until 2027. However, a number of Premier League teams are still paying close attention to the young midfielder, with Chelsea being the most aggressive in their pursuit of the gifted kid.

An intriguing subplot is provided by the impending match between Chelsea and Brighton in the Premier League's preseason competition in Philadelphia. Caicedo, who had more time off, will depart from Ecuador and arrive in the United States without stopping, while the Brighton team is due to depart on Tuesday.

Caicedo initially transferred to Brighton from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in February 2021 for a rumoured sum of £4.5 million. He didn't play any games for the club that year, though. Caicedo went on loan at Beerschot in Belgium for the first part of the 2021–22 season before being called up by Brighton in January 2022. He made his Premier League debut in April 2022, and since then, he has played for Brighton in 53 games and scored two goals.

The teenage midfielder was instrumental in Brighton's triumphant campaign last year, helping the side finish sixth in the Premier League and advance to the Europa League group stage.

Brighton is steadfast in their stance despite Chelsea's sizable offer, casting doubt on Caicedo's future. The midfielder's exceptional talent and potential have piqued the curiosity of numerous elite teams, escalating the battle for his services.