Can Mudryk reignite Chelsea career after doping ban?

The Ukraine international, 25, has not featured for the Blues since November 2024 due to anti-doping procedures.

But with those issues now resolved, he has been cleared to return to football and will reunite with his team-mates on their pre-season tour.

While Alonso has made it clear he will welcome the winger with open arms, it remains to be seen how he will fit into his plans.

The Spaniard said: “He is coming to Hong Kong. We are happy for him.

“We probably are not able to understand what he has been through and how he feels in this moment with the things he's had to cope with.

“We want him to feel part of a team because he has been training on his own for a long time.

“He has the support of everyone, from the club, from his team-mates and staff. For sure, it will take time. But once he is with us, we will see how things develop.”

The story so far

After so long out of action, Mudryk will be desperate to make up for lost time.

He joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 and was an immediate hit with the club’s fans, despite some inconsistent performances.

Prior to his suspension, Mudryk weighed in with 10 goals and 11 assists in 73 appearances for the Blues.

And while the managerial landscape has changed considerably at Stamford Bridge since he last kicked a ball in competitive action, hopes are high that he can remind people why he was signed in a deal that could yet be worth up to £89million.

A welcome return

Alonso added: “To have the Mudryk we had will take time. But now there is a change, things start moving. For him, it’s a massive change.

“He has been training on his own every day — that must’ve been really, really hard because he wanted to play football and be part of a team. He was not allowed to do that for such a long time.

“So once this big change has happened, now things move and we will see if it’s quicker, slower, but we need to be aware of that.

“I remember watching him at Shakhtar, the impact he had, how good he is. How good he is in one-on-one situations and how he could create a lot of situations on his own. He is a special player but it will take time.

“We were not expecting to have this great news at this moment. We are very happy and we feel he will really help us.”

The challenge ahead

If Alonso’s words ring true, Mudryk can look forward to a place in the first-team squad as Chelsea chase domestic glory on three fronts in 2026-27.

With Jamie Gittens currently in the frame to get the nod on the left wing, the Ukrainian faces a battle to win a place in the starting XI — and a loan cannot be ruled out. 

But having overcome the biggest fight of his career, combined with the fact he has previously played in a range of positions for the Blues, the man known as ‘Misha’ will be up for the challenge.

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