Tottenham Hotspur have signed Mykhailo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea, bringing the Ukrainian winger back together with Roberto De Zerbi.
The loan includes a £75 million option to buy, but Spurs are not obligated to activate this next summer. If Mudryk does well in north London, they can make the move permanent next summer.
Tottenham pivoted to the 25-year-old after missing out on other attacking players. Their attempt to sign Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo did not work out, with the Reds not willing to sanction a move, and Manchester City stepped in to take Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye ahead of De Zerbi’s side despite an agreement in place with The Toffees.
Mudryk reportedly wanted to work with De Zerbi again and turned down all other options once the opportunity arose to reunite with his former boss. They had worked together before at Shakhtar Donetsk, where the Italian coach helped Mudryk start his senior career.
De Zerbi has always admired Mudryk and once said he could become a future Ballon d’Or winner. When Mudryk’s suspension ended during Tottenham’s pre-season tour in Australia, De Zerbi called him his “son” and said he hoped Mudryk would show his talent again.
Mudryk recently came back from a 20-month suspension for testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. The issue was settled on July 31, allowing him to play again.
He joined Chelsea’s pre-season tour in Asia and appeared as a second-half substitute in a friendly against Juventus, his first match since November 2024. However, opportunities at Stamford Bridge were expected to be limited, making a loan move attractive to the player and West London side.
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar in January 2023 for an initial £62 million, with the fee possibly rising to £89 million with add-ons. He showed some promise early on but had trouble performing consistently in his first season in England.
Moving to Tottenham is both a chance and a risk for Mudryk and Spurs. The North London side will get a fast, direct winger who can play on either side, but one who hasn’t played in 24 months.
However, Mudryk could be looking for an opportunity to really prove himself following his lengthy suspension and playing under a head coach he trusts should only be a positive for the Ukrainian international.
De Zerbi’s challenge will be to help Mudryk regain his confidence and improve his decision-making, which was still developing when they worked together in Ukraine. Knowing De Zerbi’s tactics could help Mudryk adjust faster, while providing additional cover for Tottenham as they try to recover from a poor season last campaign.
Mudryk will give Tottenham another attacking option alongside Savinho, Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, and Mohammed Kudus. His arrival should boost competition up front and give De Zerbi a new threat on the counter-attack.
If things go well, Tottenham can use their £75 million option to buy. For now, the loan gives Mudryk a new beginning with the manager who may have always believed in him the most.
