Mudryk Set for Chelsea Return After 20-Month Suspension

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk could make his return to action on Wednesday after being included in the club’s squad for a pre-season friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong, ending a 20-month spell on the sidelines.

The 25-year-old Ukraine international has not featured in a competitive match since November 2024 after being provisionally suspended following an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance meldonium.

However, he was cleared to return to football last week after resolving his case with the Football Association.

Speaking ahead of the match, new Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed Mudryk is available for selection.

“Yes, he could play. Maybe 90 minutes is too early, but he can be selected. He’s selected, so he can play,” Alonso said.

“He trained yesterday, came directly from the airport to the hotel. Yesterday was more about getting the feeling and emotions of being back with the players while assessing his fitness.”

Mudryk received a warm reception from fans when his image appeared on the big screen at Kai Tak Stadium during Chelsea’s open training session ahead of the Juventus clash.

He trained with the rest of the squad as Elton John’s I’m Still Standing played over the stadium speakers and took part in possession drills, including a light-hearted wrestling moment with defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

He was initially involved in a set-piece session with players expected to start on the bench, led by new coach Austin MacPhee, before joining a second training drill under Alonso focused on attacking patterns of play for left-sided wingers.

Mudryk had arrived in Hong Kong just 36 hours earlier alongside goalkeepers Mike Penders and Gabriel Slonina, wingers Geovany Quenda and Pedro Neto, and new signing Danny Welbeck, shortly after the announcement confirming his return to eligibility.

Sources close to the player and the club say Mudryk was genuinely excited and relieved to reunite with his Chelsea teammates, many of whom remained in contact throughout his suspension.

He also trained on Monday, with Chelsea releasing footage of him pointing to the club badge, a gesture seen as appreciation for the support he received during his time away.

Images and videos from training showed Mudryk fully participating in sessions and quickly reintegrating into the squad.

During his suspension, Chelsea continued monitoring his physical and mental wellbeing, while teammates regularly offered encouragement.

Those close to Mudryk say he remained committed to preserving his career by maintaining a consistent and intensive training routine throughout his absence.

He hired a private coach and regularly trained with goalkeepers and outfield players at Honeycroft Stadium, home of seventh-tier club Uxbridge FC.

Earlier this summer, his personal coach also took him to Austria for a training camp in anticipation of a possible return to competitive football.

Despite those preparations, the timing of his clearance—following discussions between his legal team and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)—came as a surprise to both the player and Chelsea.

People around the squad also say Mudryk has been spending time with teammates off the pitch, including playing table tennis at the team hotel, where fans have gathered hoping to meet him.

The focus now shifts to whether his preparations during the past 20 months will be enough to convince Alonso that he is ready to rediscover the form that once earned him the nickname “the Ukrainian Neymar.”