Brighton has signed Ecuadorian international midfielder Moises Caicedo from Independiente del Valle on a long-term contract until 2025.
The Seagulls are believed to have spent around £ 4.5million on the 19-year-old, who was previously also watched by Manchester United and Everton.
“It’s no secret that we have worked to bring Moises to the club, and we are very happy that he is finally here,” manager Graham Potter told the official Brighton website.
“He will need time to settle down with the squad, for us to get to know him and vice versa, as well as to get us up to speed and prepare for the demands of the Premier League.
“He did really well in Ecuador and made his debut for his country at just 18 years old. It’s an exciting signing, but it’s important that we give it time to adapt.
Technical director Dan Ashworth acknowledged the level of interest in Caicedo and explained that he is a player Brighton has been watching for some time.
“It has been a complicated transfer, due to the current restrictions, and there has been a lot of hard work in several departments at the club to complete the transfer,” Ashworth said.
“Moises is still a young player, moving away from his [home] country for the first time, we are giving it the time it needs to adjust and adapt.
Caicedo made his first-team debut for Independiente del Valle in 2019 and also helped the Ecuadorian club win the Under-20 Copa Libertadores last year. He made his senior international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Argentina in October and already has four caps.
The player can be seen as a box-to-box midfielder and AC Milan and RB Leipzig were two of the more distant clubs showing interest in him.
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