Mykhailo Mudryk handed Premier League lifeline as loan deal explored

Chelsea have rejected an approach from Leeds to sign Mykhailo Mudryk on loan, talkSPORT understands.

It is also understood talks between the clubs remain ongoing.

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Among a number of attacking options identified by Leeds, the winger was recently cleared to return to playing after his FA doping ban was resolved.

Mudryk returns

Signed by Chelsea in January 2023, Mudryk was suspended for four years in November 2024 having returned an ‘adverse finding’ for meldonium, are prohibited substance.

The Ukraine international subsequently appealed his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

And the FA confirmed last month that Mudryk was free to play again ‘with immediate effect’.

Since being banned, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) procedures have changed such that had Mudryk returned the same test result now, he would not be suspended.

An FA statement explaining the situation read: “Changes have been made…which, while not retroactive, mean that if Mr Mudryk’s sample was collected today, the concentration of meldonium in the sample would not have been reported and no anti-doping rule violations would have resulted.

“Further to that development and to other circumstances of the case, the FA and Mr Mudryk have now – with the agreement of WADA – resolved the appeal proceedings.

“As a part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the ADRVs (Anti-Doping Rule Violations) charged and acceded to a period of ineligibility equal to the time served at the date of the agreement.

“Mr Mudryk is no longer ineligible and may return to competition with immediate effect.”

Mudryk ‘looking to the future’

Reacting to the resolution, Mudryk explained how tough a time it had been for him. He posted on Instagram: “After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded, and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect. I am grateful that this process has reached a conclusion, that I have been cleared to return to football and that I can now look ahead to my future.

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“This has been the most difficult period of my career. As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance.

“My commitment to competing fairly and representing my club and country with professionalism and integrity has always been important to me. I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and belief throughout this period.

“I also want to express my deep gratitude to everyone at Chelsea FC, my teammates and the Chelsea supporters who have been with me throughout. I would also like to thank my legal team and others who assisted for their tireless work on my case.

“My focus now is on returning to football, working hard every day, and making a positive contribution on the pitch. Thank you to everyone who continued to believe in me. I look forward to the next chapter of my career.”

Mudryk made his Chelsea comeback in the Blues’ pre-season friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong earlier this month.

If Mudryk does make the move to Elland Road, he should be in good shape, with his Chelsea teammates remarking about how impressed they were with his fitness levels.

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“I’d say it was like a pre-season for 18 months,” Mudryk said. “So I’ve been training, I’ve been training hard. I didn’t give up and I just tried to work as hard as I could.”

Having come through the youth system at Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, Mudryk became his country’s most expensive player of all time when he joined Chelsea.

The Blues pipped London rivals Arsenal to his signature in a deal worth up to £88m.

Mudryk penned an eight-and-a-half-year contract – one of the longest in football history – meaning he’s not due to become a free agent until the end of the 2030/31 season.

The 2022 Ukrainian Footballer of the Year, capped 28 times at senior level, has scored 10 goals in 73 appearances for Chelsea to date.

But with Xabi Alonso‘s Blues stocking up in attack this summer, he’s likely to find regular minutes hard to come by at Stamford Bridge.

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Next stop Leeds?

Leeds could be the ideal destination for Mudryk to kickstart his career, then, as Daniel Farke‘s side look to build on a solid return to the top flight last term.

The Whites kick off the 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

They’ve made four signings this transfer window, breaking their club record to bring in goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City.