Mykhailo Mudryk has arrived at Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Chelsea, but former Spurs midfielder Gus Poyet warns the move represents a significant risk. The Ukrainian winger, 25, has not played competitive football in 22 months following a doping suspension that was eventually overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July.
Poyet told GOAL that Mudryk is a "very specific player" defined by one standout attribute. "He's a player that has one quality, which is speed, amazing speed," the ex-Chelsea man explained. "If it's not good in his game, then that's it." That concern cuts deeper given Mudryk's lengthy absence from competition and the unpredictability of his fitness after such an extended layoff. Players returning from prolonged inactivity often struggle with soft-tissue injuries, a risk Tottenham has chosen to accept.
Background and Chelsea Struggles
Mudryk joined Chelsea for approximately £90 million in January 2023 after impressing at Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine. Despite the substantial investment, he failed to establish himself in the Premier League, scoring just 10 goals across 73 appearances. His adaptation to English football proved laborious, with 24 appearances needed before registering his first Blues goal. That sluggish production raised questions about whether his elite pace could compensate for technical limitations in the demanding top flight.
The forward's career stalled dramatically in November 2024 when he received a four-year ban for testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance. The suspension was later rescinded on appeal, clearing him to resume playing in July 2025. Chelsea subsequently allowed him to leave on loan to Tottenham, viewing the arrangement as an opportunity to revive a struggling investment.
De Zerbi Factor and Path Forward
Mudryk reunites with Roberto De Zerbi at Spurs, the manager who oversaw his senior breakthrough at Shakhtar in 2021-22. De Zerbi has previously expressed bold confidence in the winger's potential, stating in 2022: "I think Mudryk can win the Ballon d'Or in the future." The Italian tactician emphasises that Mudryk requires emotional support and clear tactical direction to thrive—elements that may have been absent during his Chelsea spell.
Whether De Zerbi can unlock Mudryk's talent remains uncertain. The loan carries inherent risk: a player returning from enforced absence, possessing a skill set built almost entirely on explosive pace, facing a test of durability in a physically demanding league. Success depends on whether Tottenham's system can maximise that speed while mitigating his weaknesses in technique and decision-making. Mudryk's first competitive action in north London will reveal whether this calculated gamble pays off or becomes another cautionary tale of potential unfulfilled.
