Mykhailo Mudryk preferred to join Arsenal over Chelsea in bombshell revelation

Mykhailo Mudryk wanted to join Arsenal rather than Chelsea in January 2023.

Both London clubs were interested in signing Mudryk in the 2022-23 winter transfer window. 

Chelsea ultimately won the race when they agreed a deal worth £88 million with Shakhtar Donetsk. 

The Ukrainian club’s director of football Darijo Srna has revealed Mudryk wanted to join Arsenal after a convincing pitch by manager Mikel Arteta. 

However, Chelsea made a better offer and Shakhtar agreed to sell the forward to them. 

Srna said: “Misha talked to Arteta. I talked to the Chelsea coach. And, probably, at that moment he liked Arteta more. 

“But it is the club that decides whether to sell a player or not. We told him that the club has found a common language with Chelsea.” 

Mudryk’s signing was widely regarded as a coup for Chelsea at the time. 

He failed to live up to expectations, scoring only 10 goals in 73 appearances across all competitions. 

Mudryk suffered a major blow to his career in December 2024 when he was suspended for four years for failing a drug test. 

He was cleared to play again this summer after a resolution was reached between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Football Association (FA) over an anti-doping violation. 

Mudryk has since joined Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan deal that includes a £75m buy option. 

He made his debut for Spurs in the goalless draw with Nottingham Forest, but then picked up an ankle injury in training that will keep him out for several weeks. 

Stats from Transfermarkt.