Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who has been out of professional football for over a year and a half due to a doping scandal, has officially returned to full fitness and begun an active search for match practice. According to insider Nicolò Schira, as reported by Sport RBC.UA, the 25-year-old has already started training with Chelsea and has managed to play several friendly matches. Nevertheless, the London club's management is considering sending the player on loan as the fastest way to restore his competitive form and confidence.
Return after 20 months on the sidelines
The key event that shaped the current situation was the lifting of his ban at the end of July 2026. To recap the timeline: in December 2024, Mudryk tested positive for meldonium and was subsequently handed a provisional suspension that effectively ruled him out for a prolonged period. Only after the case was reviewed and the sanctions removed did the midfielder get the chance to return to professional sport. His main task now is to build up his fitness and convince the coaching staff of his readiness for top-level matches.
Loan as the priority: from Strasbourg to the Premier League
The first potential loan option mentioned was French side Strasbourg, linked to Chelsea through a common owner, which made the transfer organisationally convenient. However, Mudryk himself insists on staying in the English championship, where he has already managed to adapt and make his mark. This wish narrows the field of options and shifts the focus of negotiations to Premier League clubs willing to give the Ukrainian regular playing time.
Tottenham and the De Zerbi factor
At present, the leading suitor in the Premier League is considered to be Tottenham, managed by Roberto De Zerbi — the former coach of Donetsk's Shakhtar. It was under the Italian's guidance that Mudryk made his first serious career breakthrough, so a possible reunion with his "old coach" is seen as a logical and motivating step. For the Spurs, loaning the Ukrainian looks like a pragmatic solution: a familiar player capable of strengthening the flank, without long-term financial commitments.
Competition for the Spurs' attention: Gakpo's priority
At the same time, it is important to stress that Mudryk is not currently Tottenham's top target. The Londoners are actively negotiating for Cody Gakpo from Liverpool, and it is the Dutchman who is seen as the priority reinforcement. According to insider information, should the Merseysiders block the Gakpo transfer, the Spurs will switch to loaning the Ukrainian. Thus, Mudryk's future depends to a large extent on the outcome of someone else's deal.
Contradictory data
When cross-checking the facts, some minor inconsistencies emerge that should be honestly pointed out. First, in the sources Mudryk is alternately referred to as a "winger" and a "midfielder", which reflects the flexibility of his attacking roles but creates terminological confusion. Second, the chronology of the ban contains a discrepancy: if the 20-month layoff is counted from the positive test in December 2024, the period runs into August 2026, whereas the lifting of the ban itself is dated to the end of July 2026. A difference of around one month may be explained by the fact that the sanction was counted not from the moment of the test but from the date the decision took effect, however this detail is not clarified in the primary materials.
Stats at Chelsea and prospects
Recall that Mudryk moved from Shakhtar to Chelsea in January 2023 for a club-record fee. In the Londoners' colours he managed to make 73 appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists. Now, having returned after a long break, the Ukrainian has to prove his worth all over again — and a loan at Tottenham under De Zerbi could be the very springboard that will allow him to regain his former form and solidify his place in the Blues' system.
