Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Mykhailo Mudryk will return to the squad following the lifting of his doping suspension.
In December 2024, the Football Association of Ukraine imposed a provisional ban on the Ukrainian winger after he failed a doping test. By June 2025, he was formally charged with violating anti-doping regulations, facing a potential four-year suspension.
The ban came into effect in April of this year and was initially set to last until 2028, accounting for the time he had already spent sidelined. However, on July 31, all charges against the forward were dropped, allowing him to resume playing after a lengthy absence.
The 25-year-old joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 for a transfer fee of £62 million and has scored five goals in 53 appearances for the club. He is now eligible to boost his goal tally as he rejoins his teammates in Hong Kong for the continuation of their preseason preparations.
Today, Chelsea suffered a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the final match of their Australian preseason tour. Speaking after the game at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, Alonso addressed Mudryk’s comeback.
“We are happy for him. Perhaps we can’t fully grasp what he has been through during this time. We want him to be part of the team. He has the support of everyone.
It will take time, but once everything changes, progress will begin. That is very important. He wants to play football and be part of the team; it must have been very difficult for him.
I watched him at Shakhtar, seeing the impact he made and how strong he is in one-on-one situations. He can create many chances on his own. He is a special player,” Alonso said.
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