Alonso Welcomes Mudryk Back After Ban Lift
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk will rejoin the squad this week in Hong Kong following the successful resolution of his doping appeal.
The 25-year-old was cleared on Friday after the Football Association and the World Anti-Doping Agency settled the case, ending a four-year suspension imposed when a 2024 test detected a low level of the banned substance meldonium. Alonso expressed genuine pleasure at the news while speaking in Sydney.
“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. He emphasised the importance of making Mudryk feel included again after a long absence from team life. “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. To be honest, we were not expecting to have this great news at this moment, so we are very happy learning that he will be here with us.”
Mudryk is scheduled to link up with Chelsea for the next stage of their pre-season tour, where the side will face Juventus on Wednesday. The reunion comes after the Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in Sydney on Saturday. Alonso stressed that the player’s return to competitive action would not be rushed, noting that Mudryk has not featured since November 2024.
“It will take time,” the Spanish coach cautioned. He described the transition from solitary training as a major adjustment and underlined the need for careful, patient work to help the winger regain full match readiness. Alonso acknowledged how difficult the period of isolation must have been for a player who simply wanted to contribute on the pitch.
Former Shakhtar Donetsk coach Roberto De Zerbi, now at Tottenham, also welcomed the development, calling Mudryk a top player and a lovely person. Changes in World Anti-Doping Agency procedures meant that an identical test result today would not have triggered charges, a factor that supported the successful appeal. Chelsea now look forward to supporting Mudryk’s gradual reintegration into the squad.
