Mykhailo Mudryk cleared to play as Chelsea weigh transfer options

Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared by the FA to resume competitive football after the anti‑doping case was resolved. He rejoined Chelsea’s pre‑season squad in Hong Kong, but manager Xabi Alonso said it is "too early" to assess his fitness or role, noting the player has trained alone for over a year.

Chelsea have not decided whether Mudryk will stay, be loaned, or be sold. At least three Premier League clubs have shown interest, most prominently newly‑promoted Coventry City, whose manager Frank Lampard previously coached Mudryk at Stamford Bridge. Other suitors mentioned include French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, which shares ownership with Chelsea, and additional unnamed Premier League teams.

The winger’s return follows a four‑year doping ban that was lifted after the FA and WADA agreed the original sample would not have constituted a violation under revised rules. Mudryk, signed for a reported £88 million in 2023, has not played a competitive match since November 2024. Former Shakhtar Donetsk and Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi publicly expressed personal support for the player’s comeback.