Shakhtar Donetsk manager reveals Mykhailo Mudryk’s wish of joining Arsenal before he was chosen by Chelsea
Chelsea FC wallpaper - General
Chelsea FC wallpaper - General
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Mykhailo Mudryk is aiming to make his mark at Tottenham. Mudryk joined the Spurs on a loan spell from Chelsea after being cleared of previous doping charges. However, it turns out that the Blues weren’t exactly his first choice. Mudryk actually wished to join Arsenal, as per latest transfer news.
Shakhtar director reveals Mudryk’s original choice
Shakhtar Donetsk director of football, Darijo Srna, recently revealed that Mudryk wanted to join Arsenal instead of Chelsea, as reported by The Sun. He stated, “Misha talked to Arteta. I talked to the Chelsea coach. And, probably, at that moment he liked Arteta more.”
Mudryk was interested in Arsenal more than Chelsea at that time. However, Shakhtar Donetsk eventually decided against this. The management found it more convenient to sign a transfer deal with Chelsea. With no other choice, Mudryk joined the Blues in January 2023 on an eight and a half year contract. He was signed for an initial transfer fee of €70 million.
Can Mykhailo Mudryk leave Chelsea for Arsenal next summer?
Mudryk can leave Chelsea for Arsenal next summer. However, he will have to prove his mettle at the Spurs at the **Premier League**this year in order to convince the Blues for a potential transfer deal. Apart from that, he will also have to convince the Gunners that he is extremely essential for their attacking lineup. If he manages to do so, nothing can stop him from joining the Emirates Stadium by the 2027-28 season. The Gunners are already locking horns with Man City for the top honors this year. They’re currently placed 2nd in the 2026-27 League table, only three points behind the Sky Blues.
Meanwhile Mudryk is currently playing for the Tottenham Spurs, who haven’t performed well in the last few seasons. They finished in 17th place during the 2025-26 season, and if they don’t improve their game in the upcoming matches, they might be relegated to the EFL Championship. While the Spurs have been relegated before in the past, they never experienced it ever since the Premier League was formed around 1992.
Chelsea news - Mykhailo Mudryk
Chelsea news - Mykhailo Mudryk
What’s next for Mykhailo Mudryk?
Mudryk is currently recovering from an injury. He suffered an ankle injury during the training session, as reported by ESPN. Due to this, he might not return to action until the month of October. This is not great news for the Ukrainian left winger, who has just returned to club **football**after more than a year of suspension.
In December 2024, Mudryk was provisionally suspended by the Football Association for doping allegations. He was accused of taking a low dose of meldonium [which is banned in competitive sports]. To make matters worse, the FA further charged him with anti-doping violations, and by April 2026, they announced a four-year ban on the Ukrainian left-winger from the Premier League.
However, Mudryk didn’t take this lying down. He challenged the verdict in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The panel eventually accepted that if he submitted his sample right now, he wouldn’t have been punished under the current regulations. Mudryk was vindicated and he eventually returned to club football. However, he decided to play for the Spurs on a loan spell instead of joining Chelsea without any second thought. For Mudryk, making a strong comeback will be far from easy. If Mudryk wants to make a strong impact, he will have to ensure that the Spurs perform better than expected, and stay within the top 10 of the League table if nothing else.
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