No Room For Racism

Caicedo: Learning through diversity helped me reach the top

14 Oct 2023

Chelsea's Moises Caicedo says he has been inspired by people from different walks of life on his journey to the Premier League

From the streets of Ecuador to one of the Premier League's star midfielders, Moises Caicedo's rise has been meteoric.

But the Chelsea midfielder didn't reach the top without struggle.

"It's been a journey filled with tears and pain," he says in the video above, which celebrates the diversity of the Premier League through the theme of "Greatness comes from everywhere" as part of the No Room For Racism initiative.

"I played football with one of my brothers, and they were all older than me. They were stronger than me. It was tough as they used to play hard so I could be strong from a young age.

"I'm very thankful for that because it's thanks to them I'm here today, making one of my biggest dreams come true."

Learning from different walks of life

Diversity is a key word for Caicedo, still only 21 years of age, and one of 14 Ecuadorians to have played in the Premier League.

Greatness comes from everywhere. Without diversity, the Premier League wouldn't be what it is today.#NoRoomForRacism pic.twitter.com/OMLjmGBCy7
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 10, 2023

He says his nation is obsessed with football, revealing he was inspired by his compatriots before him, and by the diverse community he has met along the way.

"Football in Ecuador is very important, even more than anything else," he explains.

"All Ecuadorians love football. When you see a lot of people from our country making it to top teams, it makes you excited to do your job well.

"I've met so many different people in my football journey. I've learned a bit of everything!"

But the players who pushed him to dream of the Premier League are not his ultimate heroes.

That status belongs to his parents, who have been a constant in his life, helping him to overcome a serious injury in 2017 before he made a name for himself at Independiente del Valle. From there he joined Brighton & Hove Albion, and then Chelsea this summer for a reported British record transfer fee.

"My parents have always been my heroes as they've accompanied me throughout the journey", he says.

"They did everything possible for me to become a professional football player."