Tottenham Hotspur are in advanced talks to bring Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk to north London on a season-long loan, as the 25-year-old looks to re-establish himself in the Premier League following the resolution of his doping case.

Spurs emerged as frontrunners for Mudryk's signature after earlier attempts to recruit Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye and Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo fell through. Chelsea had also been in discussions with Leeds United over the Ukrainian international, turning down at least one offer, before Tottenham entered the picture at a late stage.

A personal connection that could seal the deal

Mudryk is understood to be particularly open to a move to Spurs due to his relationship with head coach Roberto de Zerbi, who previously managed him at Shakhtar Donetsk. That personal bond is seen as a key factor in his willingness to join the north London club.

The winger has not featured in competitive football since November 2024, when he was provisionally suspended after returning an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance meldonium during an out-of-competition test while on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024.

The doping case

The Football Association subsequently handed Mudryk the maximum four-year ban, a decision he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, on 31 July, the FA confirmed that anti-doping disciplinary proceedings had been resolved — Mudryk accepted that he had broken anti-doping rules and agreed to serve a suspension equal to the time already served, allowing him to return to competition with immediate effect.

Throughout the process, Mudryk maintained he had never knowingly or intentionally taken a banned substance. On his return, he described his reinstatement as a source of great relief, calling the ordeal