Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso confirmed on August 4 that the club has yet to decide on Mykhailo Mudryk’s future after the winger was cleared to return to football following a nearly two-year doping suspension [1, 2, 3]. Mudryk last played for Chelsea in November 2024 before being sidelined due to testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance under 2024 rules but later reclassified, which contributed to his suspension lasting until August 1, 2026 [1, 2, 3].
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 for an initial fee of £62 million ($83.4 million) [1, 2]. The club’s current priority is helping him reintegrate into the squad and properly assess his fitness given the length of his absence [1, 2, 3]. Alonso said, "No decision has been made. Everything has happened so quickly. The main thing was thinking about the person and making him feel he was back in the group dynamic and part of the team. We need to assess the situation, but he's a special player and it's a special case, so we need to be sensitive" [1].
Alonso added that Mudryk’s return brought visible joy to the squad: "We are thrilled that Mudryk is back with us. You could see his smile and how much it meant to him to be part of the team again because he's spent a long time training on his own" [2]. The manager noted that while Mudryk could feature in upcoming matches, playing a full 90 minutes might be premature. "Yesterday was more about the feelings, about the emotions to be back with the team, more than to assess the fitness level. But yes, he could play. Maybe 90 minutes (is) too early. But he can be selected" [3].
Mudryk could appear in Chelsea’s preseason friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong on August 5, 2026, although his playing time may be limited [3]. Chelsea’s Premier League campaign starts away at Fulham on August 24, 2026 [1, 2]. Meanwhile, Chelsea recently signed England midfielder Jordan Henderson from Brentford on August 3, but his fitness is uncertain after an arm injury sustained before the transfer [3].
