Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is set to return to competitive football for the first time in nearly 20 months, having been cleared to play following a doping suspension. The 25-year-old Ukrainian had been sidelined since November 2024 after testing positive for meldonium, resulting in an initial four-year ban imposed by the Football Association. However, the suspension was lifted last week after the FA concluded disciplinary proceedings in coordination with the World Anti-Doping Agency, allowing Mudryk to rejoin Chelsea’s squad for their pre-season activities.
Mudryk, signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 for £62 million, traveled to Hong Kong with the team for the second leg of their pre-season tour, where he has begun training alongside his teammates. Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that both Mudryk and new signing Danny Welbeck are available to play in an upcoming friendly against Serie A club Juventus. Alonso cautioned that while Mudryk could be selected, playing a full 90 minutes immediately might be ambitious given the winger’s prolonged absence from competitive play.
The manager expressed enthusiasm about Mudryk’s reintegration, highlighting the player’s visible joy at returning to group training after nearly two years largely spent training alone. “You could see his smile and how much it meant to him to be part of the team again,” Alonso said. He noted that while Mudryk has worked hard on his fitness, the next step is to rebuild on-field chemistry and team dynamics.
Despite Mudryk’s return, Alonso emphasized that no final decisions have been made regarding his role or future at the club, describing the situation as sensitive given the unique circumstances. The coach reiterated the importance of patient evaluation as the player adjusts to the demands of top-level competition once more.
Chelsea’s pre-season preparations continue amid a congested calendar, with Alonso acknowledging the challenges posed by a demanding schedule especially as several players return from the recent World Cup. Notably, England midfielder Jordan Henderson, the club’s other new signing, is expected to join the team later due to recovery from a serious arm injury sustained during post-World Cup celebrations. Alonso said the club will carefully monitor Henderson’s fitness before integrating him into full training.
Other squad members, including attacker Cole Palmer and centre-back Levi Colwill, were involved to varying degrees in training sessions during the tour. As Chelsea approaches the new Premier League season, the coaching staff’s focus remains on balancing fitness, squad cohesion, and readiness ahead of competitive fixtures.