Moisés Caicedo often credits his faith in God as central to his journey. Born to Christian parents in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, he has publicly declared that he trusts God’s plan, and his goal-celebration kneelings reflect his solemn gratitude.
Quick Profile: Moisés Caicedo
| Full Name | Moisés Isaac Caicedo Corozo |
| Date of Birth | 2 November 2001 |
| Nationality | Ecuadorian |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Religion | Christian |
What religion is Moisés Caicedo?
Moisés Caicedo is a devout Christian. Reports note that he was “born to Christian parents” and that his personal beliefs and values are based on Christianity. On social media, Caicedo even includes a reference to the Bible (Joshua 1:9) in his Instagram bio, and regularly gives “glory to God” in captions. He has been seen kneeling in prayer, a gesture sometimes mistaken for Islamic prayer but the reality is that he does this to thank God in the Christian tradition.
In his own words, he wrote “God is faithful and fulfills your dreams” when celebrating his £115 million move to Chelsea. That public devotion makes it clear that his faith is in Jesus Christ and the Christian God, much like Erling Haaland and João Félix, who also reflect their beliefs through their actions and public lives.
Early life
Moisés Caicedo was born on 2 November 2001 in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, the youngest of ten siblings. Growing up in a very poor neighborhood called La Mujer Trabajadora, he played football on makeshift pitches marked by piles of stones. His family could not afford even basic gear, so a local coach, Iván Guerra, generously paid for Moisés’s boots, food and travel to games. Thanks to that support, the boy who started out playing forward eventually developed into a midfielder. By age thirteen, Caicedo was training with local youth club Colorados Jaipadida (a feeder team for the Espoli academy). When Espoli was relegated, he went through trials at Mushuc Runa and Barcelona SC, but financial obstacles prevented those trials from succeeding. Eventually, a brother helped him try out at the Independiente del Valle academy, a club known for developing talent. He impressed in training and joined their youth ranks in 2016. Early in his Independiente tenure he suffered a cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for nearly a year, but he worked through rehabilitation and returned stronger. In 2019 he captained Independiente’s youth team to victory in the Copa Mitad del Mundo tournament, then quickly made his senior debut later that year. Throughout this time, Caicedo earned the nickname “Niño Moi” (Kid Moi) and played mostly as a defensive midfielder, though he could also fill in at right-back.
Career highlights
Caicedo’s club career took off in 2021. In February 2021 he signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee around £4 million. He made his Brighton debut in an August 2021 League Cup match, providing an assist in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City. After a brief loan to Belgian side Beerschot for the first half of the 2021–22 season, Caicedo returned to Brighton in early 2022 and became a first-team regular. In April 2022 he made his Premier League debut (against Arsenal) and by the next season he was a key player in midfield. Caicedo scored his first Premier League goal in May 2022, a long-range strike in a 4–0 win over Manchester United.
His performances at Brighton drew massive attention. In 2022–23 he played almost every match and was voted Brighton’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season. During that season he also helped Ecuador’s national team reach the World Cup; Caicedo famously scored the equaliser in Ecuador’s 2–1 group-stage match against Senegal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, briefly giving his country hope of advancing.
All the interest culminated in a transfer saga in summer 2023. Liverpool reportedly agreed a £111 million fee with Brighton, but Caicedo chose instead to join Chelsea. On 14 August 2023 he signed an eight-year contract with Chelsea. The transfer set a British record, an initial £100 million fee (potentially rising to £115 million with add-ons) was paid to Brighton. At Chelsea he was given the number 25 shirt, famously previously worn by club legend Gianfranco Zola (who even endorsed Caicedo’s use of the number). He made his Chelsea debut later in August 2023. In May 2024 Caicedo scored his first Chelsea goal, a spectacular 50-yard strike in a 2–1 win over Bournemouth.
In the 2024–25 season Caicedo became a central figure for Chelsea. He even captained the team for the first time in August 2024 during a UEFA Conference League match. Caicedo played every league game that season, showcasing his remarkable stamina and consistency. Most notably, on 28 May 2025 he scored a stoppage-time goal in the 4–1 victory over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final, helping Chelsea lift the trophy. His outstanding season was recognized when he was named Chelsea’s Player of the Season 2024–25. (He had earlier won Brighton’s Player of the Season for 2022–23 as noted above.)
On the international stage, Caicedo earned his first senior cap for Ecuador in October 2020 at age 18. Besides the 2022 World Cup appearance mentioned, he was also named to Ecuador’s squad for the 2024 Copa América. By late 2025 he had over 50 caps and a handful of international goals to his name, establishing himself as a fixture in Ecuador’s midfield.
Personal life
Off the field, Caicedo is known to be very close to his family. He still comes from a large household, he is the youngest of ten siblings– and his parents have been a key inspiration. In his personal life, Moisés has a long-term partner named Paola Salazar. They have been together since their teenage years (starting around 2018). The couple welcomed their first child in 2024, a daughter born that year. Paola, who has worked as a model and influencer, even attended the public unveiling of Caicedo at Chelsea. Fans have noted the resemblance of Caicedo and Salazar’s story to famous football couple Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo, since Caicedo and Paola have been together since childhood and grew up supporting each other.
Caicedo is also active in charitable work through his foundation, Niño Moi 23. Through that program he promotes sports, education and health initiatives in Ecuador. His foundation has sponsored youth sporting events, delivered school supplies and food, and supported medical projects in areas like pediatrics and surgery. This community involvement and his humble upbringing have made him a popular figure in Ecuador beyond just sports.
Awards and honors
Over a still-young career, Moisés Caicedo has already amassed several honors. At youth level he helped Independiente del Valle’s U20 team win the 2020 U-20 Copa Libertadores. As a professional, he won the UEFA Conference League (2024–25) with Chelsea. (Chelsea also finished as EFL Cup runners-up in 2023–24.) Individually, he was voted Brighton & Hove Albion Player of the Season 2022–23 (and also Brighton’s Players’ Player). More recently, he earned Chelsea’s Player of the Season 2024–25 (and Chelsea’s Goal of the Season 2023–24). He also received the Bronze Ball award at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.
Earnings and net worth
Caicedo’s transfer to Chelsea made him one of the highest-paid midfielders in the world. He signed an eight-year contract worth about £62.4 million in base salary, averaging roughly £7.8 million per season. This translates to a weekly wage in the ballpark of £150,000 (ChelseaChronicle reports about £150K per week).
For comparison, he earned about £60,000 per week at Brighton. His transfer fee (up to £115 million including add-ons) has dramatically increased his market value and potential earnings. Public estimates of his total net worth vary, some media sources suggest figures around a few million pounds, but those should be taken with caution. It’s clear that with several years of a mega-contract ahead, Caicedo’s wealth will grow substantially if he continues at top clubs.
