Mudryk Chelsea return will take time - Alonso

What the report says

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has said Mykhailo Mudryk is set to rejoin the squad on the club’s pre-season tour, but that it will take time before anyone can judge what he can contribute. The remarks came after Chelsea’s friendly loss to Tottenham in Sydney, with Alonso saying he had not yet spoken to the Ukraine winger and stressing that his fitness and match readiness remain unclear.

Mudryk, 25, has not played competitively for Chelsea since November 2024. According to BBC Sport’s report, the Football Association has now ended its anti-doping case after Mudryk accepted a breach of the rules and agreed to a suspension that matched the time he had already served. The case followed an adverse finding for meldonium, and Mudryk was not able to train with Chelsea staff during the process.

Alonso said the club are pleased to have him back, while also acknowledging the challenge of returning after such a long layoff. He said Mudryk trained independently, and that Chelsea want him to feel part of the group before making any assessment of his impact. The manager also noted that the winger’s return is somewhat unexpected given Chelsea’s current options on the flanks.

The BBC also reported supportive comments from Roberto de Zerbi, who previously coached Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk and said he hoped the player can show what he can do next season.