Earlier this week we reported on Mykhailo Mudryk's long wait for a hearing. Now the update is simpler: his four-year ban has been rescinded, and Chelsea are preparing to welcome him back into the squad for preseason. Mudryk said the case had been the most difficult period of his career, while Xabi Alonso spoke about wanting him to be part of the team.

Mudryk's own response

Mudryk said: "After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded, and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect." He added that he was grateful the process had reached a conclusion and said he could now look ahead to his future.

He also said, "This has been the most difficult period of my career." That is the most telling line in the whole update. This was never just a football absence, and Chelsea are treating the return as more than a simple squad boost.

Mudryk tested positive for meldonium in November 2024, and the FA handed him a four-year ban in June 2025. Chelsea gave him a nine-year contract in 2022, which is why the club now have a clear decision to make about a player they tied themselves to for the long term.

Chelsea's plan for preseason

Xabi Alonso was clear about the line Chelsea are taking. "We are happy for him. We want him to be a part of the team. He has the support of everyone," he said. He also described Mudryk as a special player and said he can create a lot of situations on his own.

That support comes after a short but useful spell before the suspension. Mudryk had five recent appearances before the ban, scored two goals in his last five matches and produced an 8.3-rated performance in Chelsea's 8-0 win over Noah. The football was beginning to look more settled, even if the wider story around him was not.

For Chelsea, the next concrete step is preseason. The club are not pretending the case never happened, but they are already talking like a side that expects Mudryk back in the group rather than on the margins.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →