Report: Atlanta United transfer target Moises Caicedo to sign with Brighton

Moises Caicedo, the 19-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder who is one of the brightest young soccer stars the nation has seen in recent years, is headed to the Premier League to play for Brighton and Hove Albion FC according to TyC’s Cesar Luis Merlo.

Atlanta United was reportedly in the running to sign the teenage sensation after he featured four times for the Ecuadorian senior national team in 2020 on top of a superb season for his club Independiente del Valle. Caicedo was also linked with Manchester United, who had reportedly submitted £4.5 million bid. The accepted bid from Brighton is still yet to be reported.

But after CBS Sports’ Roger Gonzalez reported a week ago that Atlanta United was in contention for Caicedo’s signature, Fabrizio Romano followed up a few days later that several clubs who’d been linked to the midfielder, including Atlanta United, were not in the running.

Caicedo would have been a very fun signing, but it’s not certain how great of a “fit” he’d have been for Gabriel Henize’s needs in Atlanta. After the retirement of Jeff Larentowicz, the priority for the club in the transfer window must be a press-resistant midfielder with tactical awareness. Agustin Almendra, the 20-year-old Argentine midfielder from Boca Juniors, remains a viable possibility in that role. Caicedo would’ve certainly occupied a central midfield position, but it’s uncertain how well his strongest skills would’ve suited the needs of the role in question.