Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea on a season-long loan, handing the Ukraine international an opportunity to revive his Premier League career under Roberto De Zerbi.
The deadline-day agreement includes an option allowing Spurs to sign Mudryk permanently for £75 million next summer. Crucially, the clause is not an obligation, meaning Tottenham can return the winger to Chelsea at the end of the season.
Mudryk becomes Tottenham’s ninth signing of an extraordinary summer transfer window in which the north London club have spent close to £400m rebuilding De Zerbi’s squad.
Mudryk reunited with De Zerbi
The move reunites Mudryk with De Zerbi, who previously coached him at Shakhtar Donetsk and has remained a vocal admirer of the 25-year-old.
Mudryk made clear that working with the Italian again was a major attraction.
“It’s a great feeling. I can’t wait to start training and playing for the club, and I’m so excited to be reunited with Roberto De Zerbi,” Mudryk said after completing the transfer.
The winger added that he wants to bring speed and creativity to Tottenham while contributing both offensively and defensively.
De Zerbi has long rated Mudryk exceptionally highly. After the Ukrainian was cleared to return to football earlier this summer, the Spurs manager publicly backed his former player and said he deserved another opportunity to play.
Spurs turn to Mudryk after missing out on Ndiaye
Tottenham accelerated their pursuit of Mudryk after losing the race for Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye.
Spurs had been in advanced discussions over Ndiaye, but Manchester City intervened and agreed a £65m package with Everton, comprising £60m guaranteed and another £5m in bonuses.
That prompted Tottenham to switch their attention to Mudryk, with negotiations with Chelsea progressing rapidly.
The clubs agreed a paid season-long loan and set the permanent purchase option at £75m.
The deal represents a significant gamble but gives Tottenham a season to assess whether De Zerbi can unlock the potential that made Mudryk one of Europe’s most coveted young attackers.
Chelsea’s £89m gamble gets another twist
Chelsea beat Arsenal to Mudryk’s signature in January 2023, agreeing a package with Shakhtar worth up to €100m approximately £89m at the time.
However, Mudryk struggled to consistently reproduce the explosive performances that had attracted Chelsea and Arsenal.
His career was then dramatically interrupted after he was provisionally suspended following an anti-doping violation involving meldonium. He spent about 20 months away from competitive football before being cleared to return this summer after the case was resolved.
Mudryk returned to action during Chelsea’s pre-season preparations, including an appearance against Juventus, before Tottenham emerged as his deadline-day destination.
The transfer is also historically unusual. ESPN reports that Mudryk is the first player to move directly between Chelsea and Tottenham since goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini switched Stamford Bridge for Spurs in 2009.
Tottenham now have the entire season to decide whether Mudryk can rediscover the form that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young wingers and whether that resurgence would justify triggering a massive £75m permanent deal.
