Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk is set to rejoin the team in Hong Kong this week, following his successful appeal against a four-year doping ban. Manager Xabi Alonso has expressed that the winger will be welcomed with open arms but emphasized that his reintegration will be a slow process. Mudryk, who was suspended after failing a drug test in 2024, was cleared to resume his career after the Football Association and the World Anti-Doping Agency resolved his appeal.
Alonso's Support for Mudryk
In a statement, Alonso highlighted the importance of Mudryk feeling part of the team and receiving support from everyone within the club. The Spanish manager acknowledged the difficulties Mudryk faced during his suspension and expressed happiness at his return. 'We are happy, especially for him, because we are not able to understand what he has been through in this time and how he feels at the moment,' Alonso said. 'We want that he feels part of the team, because he has not had this for a long time, and that he has the support from everyone: from the club, from the teammates, from the staff.'
Alonso cautioned that while the news of Mudryk's return was unexpected and welcomed, the winger's reintegration would not be rushed. 'It will take time,' Alonso said. 'But once there's a change, things will start moving, and for him, it's a massive change (from) training on his own every day. I think that had to be really, really hard because he wanted to play football, he wanted to be part of the team, and he was not allowed to do that for such a long time. So once this meeting has happened, now we can move on and after we will see if he makes progress quicker or slower. But we need to do the work.'
Mudryk's Journey and Future
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for €62 million in 2023, has not played since November 2024. His return comes as Chelsea continues their pre-season tour, with their next match against Juventus in Hong Kong. Despite the long absence, there is optimism that Mudryk can contribute significantly to the team. 'He's my son, he's a cool guy, a top player, hopefully he can show what he suffered the last two seasons in this coming season, maybe not against Tottenham, but he's a lovely guy,' said Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi, who managed Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Mudryk's appeal was filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and changes to WADA procedures meant that had his failed test produced the same result now, charges would not have been brought. The resolution of his appeal marks a significant milestone in his career, and Chelsea is committed to supporting him through the next phase.
