Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has broken his silence and made a defiant statement as 2026 begins. The Ukrainian international remains suspended and is banned from playing for both club and country.
He originally joined the Blues in January 2023 from Shakhtar Donetsk for a staggering £89 million. During his three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, the 24-year-old made over 70 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists.
Despite this, he was provisionally suspended at the end of 2024 after a urine sample tested positive for a banned substance. Mudryk faced formal charges in June last year, but the FA’s investigation continues.
As a result, he is currently suspended indefinitely, and the possibility of sanctions remains unclear. When news of his positive test came out in 2024, Mudryk declared at the time: “I have never knowingly used a banned substance before or broken any rules, so this was a complete shock. I am working closely with my team to investigate why this happened.”
“I know I did nothing wrong and I remain hopeful of returning to the pitch soon.”
Since his suspension came into effect, Mudryk has been restricted from attending the club and continues to train individually with a personal trainer.
He has now issued his first statement of 2026 and remains determined to return to action at the earliest opportunity. “Happy New Year to all my fans,” the winger posted on his Instagram Story. “I just wanted to thank you for the support.
“I’ve seen all your messages and I really appreciate them. So please don’t give up on me, just like I haven’t given up on myself. I can’t wait to see you again.”
Mudryk’s last appearance for Chelsea was in November 2024, in the Conference League win against Heidenheim. A few days later, he remained on the bench in the Premier League match against Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are looking for a new manager after Enzo Maresca resigned on New Year’s Day. The announcement comes less than 48 hours after the league stalemate with Bournemouth, following months of friction between the Italian player and club executives.
Academy coach Callum MacFarlane will take charge of the squad for this weekend’s trip to Manchester City as the search for a permanent head coach intensifies. Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind the top four teams.
