Moises Caicedo has revealed his new Chelsea shirt number after a discussion with the Blue’s former player Gianfranco Zola.
The Ecuadorian International defensive midfielder joined Chelsea on a British record after rejecting an offer to sign for Liverpool, becoming the most expensive player in British football history at 115 million pounds.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion player has put pen to paper on an eight years deal until the summer of 2031 and the Blues have the option to extend it by an additional year until 2032.
Meanwhile, Caicedo has agreed to put on the No. 25 jersey, which was once worn by the Stamford Bridge outfit legend Zola from the period of 1996 to 2003.
The West London club took to their Instagram page to unveil Caicedo’s squad number with the player’s message underneath.
He said, “I’m so proud to wear this number, I spoke with Gianfranco Zola, and he gave me his blessing. I know how much it means”.
Gianfranco Zola also disclosed what he informed Caciedo, he said: “Thank you for the message. I hope it will bring you as much pleasure as it brought me. Good luck”.
The former Independiente del Valle midfielder will be the first to don the No. 25 shirt since Gianfranco Zola left the club twenty years ago.
Since then, the jersey has enjoyed an unofficial retirement. However, Caicedo has received the Italian maestro’s approval to wear the shirt number after making the record transfer to Stamford Bridge.
Zola wore the jersey number for seven Premier League seasons as he rose to fame at the time when Roman Abramovich eventually decided to invest in the West London club.
Caicedo also wore the number 25 shirt during his stint at Brighton & Hove Albion since it was special to him.
Zola played for Chelsea between 1996 and 2003, making 312 appearances, scoring 80 goals, and taking home several trophies, including two FA Cup victories.
Meanwhile, Caicedo also enjoyed his time at Brighton, making 53 appearances for the Seagulls across two seasons and was crowned the club’s Men’s Player of the Season for the 2022/2023 Premier League campaign.
The Ecuadorian defensive midfielder was also a key part of the team last season, helping them to qualify for European competition for the first time in the club’s history.
Given Zola’s heritage at the club, not only is the price tag steep but so is donning the No. 25 jersey for Chelsea. It will be expected of the 21-year-old to succeed shortly.
The Ecuadorian midfielder participated in his first practice with his new club on Wednesday, 16th of August, at the club’s Cobham practice center.
What’s next for Moises Caicedo?
On Sunday, 20th of August, Caicedo will make his Chelsea debut as Mauricio Pochettino’s team travels across London to take on West Ham United in the Premier League.
On the other hand, Romeo Lavia is still needed for Chelsea’s midfield, the 19-year-old has a contract with the Blues worth a total of £58 million, including add-ons. This week, Lavia will have a medical, after which he will sign a long-term contract.
