Getty Image
When Chelsea FC spent some 70 million Euros in January of 2023 to steal winger Mykhailo Mudryk away from rival Arsenal, it was with the expectation that he’d become one of the world’s greatest attacking players. That has not yet happened.
Mudryk, just 22 at the time, possessed all the raw physical tools to grow into a superstar. But he’s since languished on the bench after struggling to find his footing in England.
Mudryk appeared to be figuring things out this season under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. He has primarily served as a backup to newcomers Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho. But he has starred for the Blues in the UEFA Conference League, racking up three goals and three assists in four starts.
But things became a big murky earlier this month when Mudryk was not even named to the bench for Chelsea’ 5-1 Premier League victory at Southampton. At the time, the understanding was that he was out due to illness. He’s since missed each of Chelsea’s last three matches, and the club have remained quiet about his status.
“Carney [Chukwuemeka] after Astana was ill, Chilly (Ben Chilwell) was ill. Pedro [Neto] was suspended and then we had Reece [James] and Wes [Fofana] injured,” Maresca told the Chelsea wesbite. “And unfortunately, during the session yesterday, Benoit [Badiashile] felt something, and Misha [Mudryk] is out too.”
“Misha is out too,” is the eye-catching line here. Maresca did not mention that Mudryk was ill, like others. He also did not state that he was injured. And Mudryk has not been spotted with the team in training or at matches.
Fans have begun to wonder what exactly is going on.
How come we still don’t know what’s going on Mykailo Mudryk? What’s that illness? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/aOoz7eyMQc
— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) December 15, 2024
Mudryk disappeared from the face of the earth what happened to him
— annie🪐 (@fuyu_cfc) December 15, 2024
What happened to Mudryk? Where is he??
Disappeared from the earth or what?— Shivam🐣 (@sushi_vam) December 16, 2024
Some fans have since speculated that Mudryk could be angling for a move away from the club in the January transfer window. But it’s hard to imagine Chelsea would oblige. When available, he was playing the best he had since arriving to the club. It’s also unlikely that Chelsea could fetch an adequate transfer fee for Mudryk in the January window, a loan makes little sense for the club.
Maybe it’s just illness. Maybe there’s something else. But for the time being, Mykhailo Mudryk appears to MIA and nobody knows why.