Mudryk set to return Wednesday in Chelsea friendly after drugs ban

Mykhailo Mudryk is poised to return to action on Wednesday when Chelsea faces Juventus in a friendly in Hong Kong, according to BBC Sport. The 25-year-old Ukrainian winger has been sidelined for 20 months after a provisional suspension following an "adverse finding" for meldonium, a banned substance, in November 2024.

He received the green light to make his comeback last week after resolving his case with the Football Association. New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso commented: "Yes, he could play. Maybe 90 minutes is too early, but he can be selected. He trained yesterday, came directly from the airport to the hotel. It was more about feelings, emotions, being back with the players and assessing his fitness level."

During his absence, Mudryk worked tirelessly to maintain his condition, hiring a personal coach and undertaking a training camp in Austria. At an open training session at Kai Tak Stadium, the crowd gave him a huge ovation when his image appeared on the big screen, and he participated fully in possession drills alongside his teammates.

Alonso revealed that several Premier League clubs, Italian sides and overseas teams have made approaches. Chelsea, Mudryk and his representatives are in a two-week assessment period to evaluate his readiness for elite football, with his future likely to become clearer before the 1 September transfer deadline. The Ukrainian remains under contract until 2031.