The mysterious case of Mudryk
Chelsea’s £88.5m problem refuses to go away
Chelsea find themselves stuck in one of English football’s most drawn-out and baffling cases, and the Mudryk situation took a much more serious turn this week. According to an exclusive report by journalist Ben Jacobs, the Football Association handed Chelsea attacker Mykhailo Mudryk a four-year ban for a doping violation.
The 25-year-old Ukrainian international has been sidelined since November 2024 after testing positive for the prohibited substance meldonium. The finding came from a routine urine test, which led to a provisional suspension in December 2024, followed by an official charge in June 2025.
Mudryk has denied any wrongdoing, stating he was in “complete shock” and had “never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules.” His case is now with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where written submissions have been exchanged between the FA and Mudryk’s legal team, though a final hearing date has not been set.
Meanwhile, Chelsea gave Cole Palmer his number 10 shirt in June 2025, and the winger has since been seen training alone at non-league Uxbridge FC. Interestingly, the FA’s agent transactions list for 2025/26 showed that Chelsea and Mudryk’s primary agent had agreed to an “updated contract,” making the whole situation even murkier than before.
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Does Chelsea’s contract update signal silent loyalty or careful legal positioning?
Chelsea’s decision to register an updated contract for a banned player is the detail that really sets this case apart from a standard split. Most clubs in this position would silently prepare the exit papers and move on, yet Chelsea seem to be keeping a door open that logic suggests they should shut.
Mudryk arrived for a massive £88.5 million and managed only 10 goals and 11 assists across 73 appearances, a return that never really justified the price tag, even before the ban. While his pace and directness offered real width, his decision-making in the final third often let him down.
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Still, Chelsea’s contract update is likely a matter of legal caution rather than any real footballing sentiment, as terminating a contract during an appeal carries financial and regulatory risks. The club are currently eighth in the Premier League, chasing a top-five finish, and have moved on without him. Chelsea’s priority is clearly what happens on the pitch, not Mudryk’s courtroom battle, and that distance likely tells you everything you need to know about his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.
