Mykhailo Petrovych Mudryk (; born 5 January 2001) is a Ukrainian professional footballer who last played as a left winger for club Chelsea and the Ukraine national team. He is currently serving a provisional suspension from football for testing positive in a doping test.
Mudryk began his career in the academies of Metalist Kharkiv and Dnipro, before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2016. He made his professional debut two years later, followed by loans to Arsenal Kyiv and Desna Chernihiv. In 2023, he moved to English club Chelsea in a transfer worth an initial â¬70 million (ã62 million), making him the most expensive Ukrainian footballer and the most expensive player signed from the Ukrainian Premier League.
Mudryk has been a Ukrainian senior international since 2022, having previously featured in several youth levels. He represented the side at UEFA Euro 2024.
Mykhailo Mudryk was born on 5 January 2001 in Berestyn, Kharkiv Oblast. An Orthodox Christian, he frequently carries religious icons to matches and has spoken openly about the importance faith has to him, which was shown by his grandmother. Mudryk has several tattoos, but considers the one which reads "Only Jesus" as his most important. He is known as "Misha" to his friends and coaches.
Mudryk began playing football at Metalist Kharkiv in 2010, before moving to Dnipro's academy in 2014. After quickly rising through the age groups, Mudryk attracted the interest of Shakhtar Donetsk, and he signed for the club's academy in 2016.
In the 2018âÂÂ19 season, he played for Shakhtar in the under-21 category. Mudryk was promoted to the first team later that year, He made his first-team debut aged 17 on 31 October 2018 in a Ukrainian Cup match against Olimpik Donetsk, which Shakhtar won 1âÂÂ0.
After struggling to get playing minutes, he was loaned to Ukrainian Premier League club Arsenal Kyiv in February 2019 for the remainder of the 2018âÂÂ19 season, playing 10 matches without scoring any goals. He played in the Ukrainian Premier League against Desna Chernihiv, Kolos Kovalivka, and Oleksandriya giving the contribution to win the title in the 2019âÂÂ20 season. In the summer of 2020, he signed a loan agreement with the Ukrainian Premier League club Desna Chernihiv and qualified for the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round. He stayed four months in Chernihiv and played 10 matches in the 2020âÂÂ21 Ukrainian Premier League and once in the 2020âÂÂ21 Ukrainian Cup.
On 8 January 2021, Mudryk returned to Shakhtar, playing three matches in the 2020âÂÂ21 Ukrainian Premier League and joining Shakhtar's reserve team, featuring sporadically for manager LuÃÂs Castro.
In the 2021âÂÂ22 season, Mudryk found more and more space as a starter, especially with the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi at the helm of Shakhtar, who had the reputation of trusting in young players. With his previous managers, failing to bring the best out of Mudryk, De Zerbi decided to recall him from his loan spell and requested a meeting with him. After the meeting, Mudryk developed a new mentality and his manager considered him one of the best young players, adding that "if I don't bring him to a high level, I will consider it a personal defeat".
On 25 August 2021, Mudryk made his UEFA Champions League debut against Monaco, replacing Manor Solomon in the 82nd minute in the play-off round of the tournament. His cross in the 114th minute ricocheted off Ruben Aguilar on the Monegasque net, as Shakhtar qualified to the tournament 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate. On 18 September, he scored his first goal for the club in a 5âÂÂ0 win against Mariupol at the Volodymyr Boyko Stadium. On 3 December, Mudryk provided four assists in a 6âÂÂ1 win against Lviv. On 31 December, he agreed to a contract extension to 2026. He was named the club's Player of the Month for the months of November and December.
On 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian Premier League was suspended due to the imposition of martial law in Ukraine due to the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent invasion by Russia. Mudryk finished the season with two goals and nine assists, being named the club's Player of the Year.
With football resuming in Ukraine, Mudryk started the 2022âÂÂ23 season by scoring his first Champions League goal and providing two assists in a 4âÂÂ1 away win over RB Leipzig. This was followed by another goal in a 1âÂÂ1 Champions League draw to Celtic. On 19 October, he scored twice in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Kolos Kovalivka. His prolific form saw him score seven goals and provide six assists in 12 matches, being named the Ukrainian Footballer of the Year and Shakhtar's Player of the Year.
On 15 January 2023, Mudryk signed for Premier League club Chelsea on an eight-and-a-half-year contract for an initial transfer fee of â¬70 million (ã62 million), potentially rising to â¬100 million (ã89 million) in add-ons. This was the largest transfer fee received by Shakhtar and the Ukrainian Premier League, topping the previous record held by Fred, and made him the most expensive Ukrainian footballer.
Mudryk's debut came on 21 January, as Chelsea drew 0âÂÂ0 away to Liverpool in a league match. His first start came against Fulham in a 0âÂÂ0 draw on 4 February. On 2 October, Mudryk scored his first competitive goal for Chelsea on his 24th appearance, opening the scoring in a 2âÂÂ0 Premier League win against Fulham. On 21 October, he scored his first goal at Stamford Bridge from a long range shot in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Arsenal. During an EFL Cup match against Newcastle United on 19 December 2023, Mudryk scored an equaliser in stoppage time to help his team to a 1âÂÂ1 draw, which Chelsea would go on to win on penalties.
On 17 December 2024, it was reported that The FA provisionally suspended Mudryk after testing positive for doping. On 5 June 2025, his number 10 shirt was given to Cole Palmer, meaning that Mudryk no longer has a designated squad number with Chelsea. Later that month, on 18 June, the FA charged him with violating anti-doping rules in which he could face a four-year ban.
From 2017 to 2018, Mudryk played for the Ukraine U17. From 2018 to 2019, he played for the Ukraine U19, Playing 12 matches and scoring five goals. In 2019, he made his debut for Ukraine U21, tallying 16 appearances and scoring three goals. On 7 September 2021, he scored the winning goal from free-kick against Armenia. On 16 June 2023, Mudryk returned to Ukraine U21 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He started in two matches and provided two assists in the tournament.
In April 2022, Mudryk was called up for the Ukraine national team for a training camp in AprilâÂÂMay 2022 in Slovenia. On 1 June, he debuted in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff semi-finals, which Ukraine won 3âÂÂ1 against Scotland.
On 17 October 2023, Mudryk scored his first senior international goal in a 3âÂÂ1 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying win against Malta. On 26 March 2024, he scored the winning goal of a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Iceland in the qualifying play-off final to send Ukraine through to the official tournament.
Wesley Fofana, his teammate at Chelsea, claimed that Mudryk is faster than Kylian Mbappé and probably the fastest player he has played against. Ben Chilwell was cautious in his praise stating, "With Mudryk, I see endless bags of potential that hasn't been fulfilled yet".
Shakhtar Donetsk
Chelsea
Individual