Mudryk leaves Chelsea for Tottenham on loan in bid to reignite career after doping case

LONDON (AP) — Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk will look to reignite his career at Tottenham after joining on a season-long loan from Premier League rival Chelsea on Tuesday, a month after being cleared to play again following a doping case.

The 25-year-old Mudryk signed for Chelsea in 2023 for 100 million euros (then $115 million) on an 8 1/2-year deal, making him one of the most expensive players in world soccer.

He hasn’t played since November 2024, though, after failing a drug test while on international duty for Ukraine. The test revealed an “adverse finding” of the prohibited substance meldonium.

Mudryk was suspended for four years by the English Football Association in January and appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April. Changes to World Anti-Doping Agency procedures in the interim meant that if he was tested now and produced the same result, doping charges would not be brought — meaning he was cleared to resume his career with immediate effect.

That will now be across London at Tottenham, whose manager Roberto De Zerbi worked with Mudryk when both were at Shakhtar Donetsk in 2021-22.

“I know exactly what he can bring to our team,” De Zerbi said. “He has the quality to change a game with his speed and ability in one-vs-one situations, and is an exciting, attacking talent.

“I will demand a lot from Misha and it is our job to help him find the best version of himself. If we do that then he can become a very important player for us.”

Tottenham has spent more than $400 million on new players this transfer window and is not short of wide players. One is Savio, who joined from Manchester City two weeks ago.

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