Tottenham Hotspur are negotiating with Chelsea to bring winger Mykhailo Mudryk to the club on a season-long loan deal. The 25-year-old Ukrainian international is eager to return to regular competitive football after resolving his doping suspension, and Spurs have emerged as frontrunners in the race to secure his services.
According to recent reporting, discussions between the clubs are centred on a loan arrangement rather than a permanent transfer. Chelsea remain reluctant to sell Mudryk permanently, while Spurs are attempting to determine whether they can guarantee sufficient playing time to justify the move.
Mudryk's availability for competition was confirmed on 31 July 2026 after the Football Association resolved anti-doping disciplinary proceedings against him. The winger had been provisionally suspended following an adverse finding for meldonium, a banned substance, detected during an out-of-competition test on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024. Although the FA initially imposed a maximum four-year ban, Mudryk appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which partially upheld his challenge. He was subsequently cleared to return to play immediately, with the suspension equalling the time he had already served.
Mudryk said he was "grateful" to be able to return to playing after "the most difficult period" of his career.He has consistently maintained that he "never knowingly or intentionally" took a banned substance.
Mudryk's path back to football
Following his clearance, Mudryk joined Chelsea's pre-season training camp in Hong Kong and made his first competitive appearance since November 2024 in a friendly against Juventus on 5 August 2026. His return to action has reignited interest from multiple Premier League clubs seeking to bolster their attacking options.
Spurs entered the race for Mudryk's signature relatively late, having previously pursued Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye and Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo without success. Chelsea had already fielded approaches from Leeds United, rejecting at least one offer for a season-long loan before Tottenham's involvement intensified the competition.
Why Mudryk favours a move to north London
The winger is understood to be receptive to joining Tottenham, partly due to his existing relationship with manager Ange Postecoglou's predecessor in discussions, Roberto de Zerbi, who previously managed Mudryk during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk. This personal connection has reportedly strengthened Mudryk's willingness to consider the move.
Mudryk arrived at Chelsea in January 2023 from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial fee of £61 million. Despite the significant investment, he has struggled to establish himself consistently at Stamford Bridge and has not featured in a competitive fixture since November 2024 due to his suspension.
Spurs' broader transfer activity
Beyond pursuing Mudryk, Tottenham have also expressed interest in Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo as they seek to strengthen their squad during the final weeks of the summer transfer window.
What happens next
The summer transfer window closes on 1 September 2026, creating an imminent deadline for all parties to reach an agreement. Spurs must finalise their decision on whether to proceed with a formal bid once their wider winger search concludes. Chelsea's reluctance to permanently part with Mudryk suggests a loan arrangement remains the most likely outcome if negotiations succeed, though the club will need assurances about his development and future prospects.
