Tottenham secure Mykhailo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea
Tottenham are taking a calculated gamble on Mykhailo Mudryk despite the Chelsea winger having not played competitively for nearly two years, reports BritPanorama.
The Blues have accepted an offer from Spurs for the 25-year-old, who has agreed personal terms ahead of a season-long loan move. The agreement reportedly includes an option to sign Mudryk permanently for £75 million next summer, three years after Chelsea paid an initial £61 million to recruit him from Shakhtar Donetsk. Add-ons could have taken that deal to £88.5 million.
Mudryk has not appeared since Chelsea faced Heidenheim in the Europa Conference League in November 2024. He subsequently returned an adverse finding for meldonium following international duty with Ukraine and was handed a four-year suspension by the Football Association in June 2025. Mudryk maintained he had never knowingly taken a prohibited substance and appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. His suspension was rescinded early, leaving him eligible to resume his career in July.
Such a move raises questions about Tottenham’s risk appetite, particularly given the player’s tumultuous recent history. However, the interest from Spurs can be traced back to manager Roberto De Zerbi, who previously worked with Mudryk at Shakhtar and has long been convinced that the Ukrainian possesses extraordinary potential. Mudryk registered two goals and nine assists across 19 appearances under De Zerbi during the 2021-22 season and impressed with standout moments, including his Champions League debut against Monaco and four assists in a single match against Lviv.
De Zerbi’s admiration for Mudryk persisted even after the Ukrainian was forced to leave Shakhtar due to Russia’s invasion, and he has publicly stated that he believes Mudryk has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or. “I think Mudryk can win the Ballon d’Or in the future,” De Zerbi said in 2022. He described Mudryk as a “very sensitive” player who “needs affection,” suggesting that their established relationship could be crucial to reviving his career. De Zerbi once characterized it as a “personal defeat” if he failed to help the winger reach the highest level, a commitment that will see Tottenham facilitate another chance for Mudryk to fulfil that promise.
Following his suspension, Mudryk referred to that period as the most challenging of his career. “As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance,” he remarked earlier this summer. His focus now is on returning to football, working hard every day, and making a positive contribution on the pitch.
His arrival at Tottenham is part of a broader agreement with Chelsea, which also sees defender Tosin Adarabioyo moving across London permanently, as Kevin Danso prepares to join Sunderland on loan. For Tottenham, hopes are high that Mudryk can finally be the player he was meant to be — expected to shine this season in the white of Spurs rather than the blue of Chelsea. In a league known for its unpredictability, the outcome of this transfer could be remarkably telling.
