Chelsea reject Leeds' initial loan offer for Mudryk as winger seeks fresh start after 20-month ban
Chelsea have turned down Leeds United's first attempt to take Mykhailo Mudryk on loan, with the opening offer falling well short of what the club expected. Negotiations between the two sides are continuing, according to BBC Sport.
The 25-year-old winger agreed to spend the season away from Stamford Bridge in a bid to rebuild match fitness after 20 months out of the game. Mudryk's absence followed a positive test for the banned substance meldonium, a heart medication added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list in 2016. His ban ended in July.
Since returning, Mudryk has made several substitute appearances on Chelsea's pre-season tour under new manager Xabi Alonso. An earlier report described his comeback appearance as "emotional" (ESPN), though his long-term future in west London has remained uncertain throughout.
Leeds emerged as frontrunners for one simple reason: they were willing to sign Mudryk on a straight loan with no purchase option attached. That arrangement lets Chelsea retain full control of the player's future while someone else covers his salary. It also suits a club that paid an initial £61m to sign him from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023.
Mudryk himself is believed to be keen on a switch to Elland Road. He indicated a preference to stay in the Premier League despite interest from Strasbourg — Chelsea's sister club under the BlueCo ownership group — and teams in Italy. A move to the French side remains under consideration, and Chelsea are also exploring sending other players, including midfielder Dario Essugo, to Strasbourg.
Brentford had hoped to secure an option to make any loan permanent, which Chelsea rejected. The Bees' interest carries some history: they attempted to sign Mudryk several months before Chelsea won the race for his signature in 2023. Coventry City have also expressed interest in the Ukrainian.
Leeds, for their part, have been busy this summer. They have already signed Harry Wilson from Fulham, Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo, James Trafford from Manchester City, and Nico Elvedi from Borussia Mönchengladbach. Their interest in Chelsea striker Liam Delap, meanwhile, has cooled.
The prospect of Mudryk remaining at Stamford Bridge is considered unlikely, though it has not been completely ruled out. What is clear is that a player who last featured competitively in November 2024 needs minutes, and Chelsea are working to find him a home for the season where he can get them.
