Mykhailo Mudryk could make his Chelsea return on Wednesday after being included in the squad for the friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong, ending a 20-month absence from football.
The Ukraine international, 25, has not played a competitive match since November 2024, when he was provisionally suspended after returning an “adverse finding” for the banned substance meldonium.
Mudryk was cleared to resume playing last week after resolving his case with the Football Association. He has now travelled with Chelsea to Hong Kong and could feature against Juventus at Kai Tak Stadium.
New Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso said Mudryk was available for selection, although he warned that playing a full match would be premature.
“Yes, he could play. Maybe [to play] 90 minutes it’s too early, but he can be selected. He’s selected, so he can play.
“He trained yesterday, came directly from the airport to the hotel. So, yesterday was more about the feelings, more about the emotions, to be back with the players to assess the fitness level.”
Mudryk received a strong reception when his image appeared on the big screen at Kai Tak Stadium during Chelsea’s open training session before the Juventus match.
He joined the wider squad for the warm-up as Elton John’s I’m Still Standing was played over the stadium’s public address system. Mudryk was also involved in possession drills and jokingly wrestled with defender Tosin Adarabioyo before one of the exercises.
He initially trained with a group expected to feature among the substitutes on Wednesday during a set-piece session led by new coach Austin MacPhee, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa.
Mudryk later worked with Alonso in a second drill, operating as one of two left-sided wingers practising attacking patterns.
The session marked a striking change in circumstances for a player who had arrived in Hong Kong only 36 hours earlier after flying from London with goalkeepers Mike Penders and Gabriel Slonina, wingers Geovany Quenda and Pedro Neto, and new signing Danny Welbeck.
His arrival came shortly after Chelsea announced that he was available to play again.
People close to Mudryk and others at Chelsea say he felt genuine excitement and relief at returning to the dressing room, where he remains familiar with many of his team-mates.
Chelsea also trained on Monday. Before that session, the club filmed Mudryk pointing towards the Chelsea badge, apparently showing his appreciation for the support he received during his time away.
The limited videos and images released by Chelsea showed him taking a full part in the drills, and he appeared to have quickly re-established himself within the squad.
During the restrictions imposed by his suspension, Chelsea monitored Mudryk’s physical and mental condition. Several of his team-mates also remained in contact with him and offered encouragement.
Mudryk is understood to be pleased with the way Chelsea treated him, although his prospects will also depend on the work he did during the 20 months away from competitive football.
According to people close to the player, he worked hard to protect his career by maintaining consistency and intensity in training.
He hired a private coach and arranged sessions with goalkeepers and outfield players at Honeycroft Stadium, the home of seventh-tier club Uxbridge FC. His coach also took him to Austria for a training camp lasting several weeks this summer, in anticipation of a possible return to football.
However, the timing of his clearance came as a surprise to Mudryk, his representatives and Chelsea after discussions between his legal team and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
Mudryk’s future remains uncertain
Mudryk has also been seen playing table tennis with team-mates at Chelsea’s hotel, where a number of supporters gathered hoping to obtain his autograph.
The next question is whether his training programme has prepared him sufficiently to convince Alonso and, eventually, help him rediscover the form that earned him the nickname “the Ukrainian Neymar”.
Chelsea have received approaches from three Premier League clubs over a possible loan move, including former manager Frank Lampard’s Coventry City, while at least three clubs from overseas have also shown interest.
Several clubs have contacted Mudryk’s representatives, with especially strong interest coming from Italy.
A move to Strasbourg is another possible option. Strasbourg are part of the same American ownership group as Chelsea, although Mudryk would use one of the club’s four available non-EU registration places.
Chelsea, Mudryk and his representatives have agreed to an initial two-week assessment period to examine how he copes with returning to an elite football environment.
The outcome is expected to influence his next move and could provide clarity shortly before the transfer deadline on 1 September. Multiple sources say every option remains open.
Asked about Mudryk’s future before Wednesday’s friendly against Juventus at Kai Tak Stadium, Alonso said: “No decision has been made. Everything has happened so quick, so the main thing is thinking about the person, to feel that he was back in the group dynamic, part of a team, and we need to assess [how he is doing].
“But for sure, he’s a special player. It’s a special case with him, so we need to be sensitive.
Mudryk has five years remaining on his Chelsea contract, which runs until 2031.
