Mykhailo Mudryk’s Chelsea comeback may begin away from Stamford Bridge

Mykhailo Mudryk is expected to return to football next season when his suspension for an anti-doping rules violation ends, but Chelsea are considering sending the winger out on loan rather than restoring him immediately to their first-team plans.

The club have accepted that their squad has adapted to life without the Ukraine international and are now looking at a temporary move which could give the 25-year-old the regular playing time he needs to rebuild his form and confidence.

According to Foot Mercato, Chelsea are increasingly open to the possibility of Mudryk spending the 2026-27 campaign away from Stamford Bridge. Several clubs have already shown an interest in signing him on loan, with Strasbourg among the teams believed to be considering a move.

Strasbourg share the same ownership group as Chelsea, a factor which could make the Ligue 1 club a practical destination for the winger as he seeks to return to competitive football.

There had been speculation that Chelsea might favour a loan move to another Premier League club. Such an arrangement would allow Mudryk to reacquaint himself with the pace and demands of English football after his absence from the game.

However, the club are understood to be leaning towards sending him to Strasbourg instead. That would give the French side the opportunity to add an experienced and talented attacking option to their squad in the coming weeks, while providing Mudryk with a platform to restart a career that has been disrupted by a difficult period away from football.

Any move would represent a significant change in the outlook for a player who arrived at Chelsea with considerable expectations. Mudryk joined the club from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 and has made 73 appearances for the Blues.

He has scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists during his time with Chelsea. Despite those figures, he is not expected to play a leading role at Stamford Bridge when he becomes available again for the 2026-27 season.

The proposed loan would allow Chelsea to assess Mudryk’s progress in regular first-team competition before determining his longer-term position within the squad. For the player, it could offer the chance to regain match rhythm and establish himself again after a prolonged interruption to his career.

Strasbourg’s interest is therefore likely to remain one of the main developments around Mudryk’s future as Chelsea weigh up the best route for his return. While a move to England remains possible, the current preference is for him to continue his comeback in France.