Tottenham Hotspur agreed to sign Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk on a season-long loan with a £75m option to buy, alongside a permanent deal for defender Tosin Adarabioyo, after pivoting away from alternative transfer targets during a dramatic summer window.
In a development few expected at the close of the summer transfer window, Tottenham reached an agreement with Chelsea for the loan signing of Mykhailo Mudryk. The move follows a dramatic series of events that saw North London clubs pivot rapidly through targets.
Tottenham made attempts to secure Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo and reached an agreement in principle with Everton for Iliman Ndiaye, only for Manchester City to hijack the Ndiaye deal. Faced with a late-window scramble, manager Roberto De Zerbi turned to a player he knows intimately from their shared time at Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Long Road Back From a Doping Suspension
Mudryk arrives at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following a turbulent period in his career. The 25-year-old winger joined Chelsea from Shakhtar in 2023 for an initial £61m, a transfer that followed intense interest from clubs across Europe, including Arsenal. After enduring a slow start to life in the Premier League that yielded seven goals and four assists in his first full campaign, his trajectory stalled dramatically.
While making an impact in the UEFA Conference League during the early months of Enzo Maresca’s tenure, Mudryk underwent an out-of-competition test on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024. He returned an adverse finding
for the banned substance meldonium, leading to a provisional suspension and a subsequent maximum four-year ban handed down by the Football Association.
Mudryk appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The matter was ultimately resolved on July 31, when the FA announced that disciplinary proceedings had concluded after Mudryk accepted breaking anti-doping rules and agreed to a suspension equal to the time already served. He became free to return to competition with immediate effect
, having not played a competitive match since November 2024.
Mudryk stated that he was “grateful” to return to playing after navigating what he described as the most difficult period
of his career.
Roberto De Zerbi Reunion and a High-Stakes Gamble
The personal connection between Mudryk and De Zerbi proved decisive in the deal. The Tottenham manager previously worked with the winger at Shakhtar Donetsk, where the Italian coach once backed the player to win the Ballon d’Or.
“He’s my son. I’m very happy. He deserves to play. He’s a cool guy, a top player. Hopefully he can show what he suffered in the last two years in this next season.”
Roberto De Zerbi, via Irishnews
While Roberto De Zerbi worked with Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk before the player’s big-money move to Stamford Bridge, the transfer represents a calculated risk for Tottenham. Mudryk has not featured in a competitive fixture for 20 months, though he did participate in pre-season friendlies with Chelsea to build up his match fitness.
The season-long loan arrangement includes a £75m option to potentially make it a permanent transfer. Upon arrival, Mudryk will provide immediate competition to Mathys Tel on the left wing.
Tosin Adarabioyo Joins in Rare Cross-Town Business
Mudryk was not the only player making the short journey across London from Stamford Bridge.
Adarabioyo made 70 appearances for Chelsea following his arrival on a free transfer from Fulham in 2024, but he had been training separately from manager Xabi Alonso’s main squad. His arrival in North London facilitated another departure, allowing back-up centre-back Kevin Danso to join Sunderland on loan with an obligation for a permanent transfer dependent on performance-related conditions.
With the transfer window closing, Tottenham’s squad adjustments also saw midfielder Pape Sarr complete a season-long loan to Juventus featuring an option to buy for a final fee of £25.7m if specific obligations are met. Meanwhile, forward Richarlison faced an uncertain future in North London following an emotional social media post expressing frustration over his career direction amid stalled talks regarding a potential return to Everton.
