Chelsea Reject Leeds Bid for Mykhailo Mudryk Loan
Chelsea have knocked back an opening season-long loan bid from Leeds United for winger Mykhailo Mudryk, but the door to a deal is still very much open.
The first proposal from Elland Road came in well below Chelsea’s demands, yet talks are ongoing and the Ukraine international is understood to be keen on the move. At 25, and after a brutal spell on the sidelines, Mudryk has accepted that he needs a year away from Stamford Bridge to rebuild his match fitness and reputation.
His career stalled dramatically after a positive test for the banned substance meldonium led to a 20‑month absence from competitive football. The ban ended in July, and since then he has been eased back into action on Chelsea’s pre-season tour under new head coach Xabi Alonso, making a handful of appearances from the bench as he tries to rediscover rhythm and sharpness.
Premier League stay the priority
Despite interest from abroad, Mudryk has made it clear in recent conversations that he wants to stay in the Premier League. Strasbourg, Chelsea’s sister club under the BlueCo ownership umbrella, have been monitoring the situation, as have clubs in Italy, but England remains his preferred stage.
Leeds have surged to the front of the queue for one key reason: they are prepared to take Mudryk on loan without any option to buy. That suits Chelsea, who want to retain full control over his long-term future while shifting his wages for the season and giving him a platform to play regularly.
It would also cap an active summer at Elland Road. The Whites have already brought in attacker Harry Wilson from Fulham, centre-back Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo, goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City and defender Nico Elvedi from Borussia Monchengladbach, reshaping the spine of Daniel Farke’s squad.
Leeds had previously shown interest in Chelsea striker Liam Delap, but that trail has cooled, leaving Mudryk as the current focus of their Stamford Bridge enquiries.
Brentford and Strasbourg still circling
Leeds are not alone. Brentford have long tracked Mudryk and were seen as a serious alternative destination. They tried to include an option to buy in any loan agreement, only to see Chelsea shut that idea down. The Bees’ interest is not new: they attempted to sign him several months before Chelsea completed a deal with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023, when the London club paid an initial £61m to win that race.
Coventry City have also registered their interest, while a switch to Strasbourg remains on the table as part of the wider BlueCo strategy. Chelsea are exploring sending other players to the French side as well, with midfielder Dario Essugo among those being considered for a move.
For now, all paths lead back to Mudryk’s immediate future. A full season in west London is viewed as unlikely, even if it has not been entirely ruled out. With the winger pushing to stay in England, Chelsea determined to protect their investment, and Leeds willing to play ball on the terms, the next offer from Elland Road may decide whether his restart comes in Yorkshire or somewhere else on the map.
