Mykhailo Mudryk to Arsenal: Club chief drops transfer bombshell

20 Sept 2026 13:05 BST | 3 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

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Shakhtar Donetsk director of football Darijo Srna has confirmed that Mykhailo Mudryk initially wanted to join Arsenal before his €70 million move to Chelsea in January 2023.

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The Ukraine international was on the verge of completing a blockbuster move to the Emirates Stadium following an eye-catching start to the 2022-23 campaign with Shakhtar, but Chelsea hijacked the deal amid their spending spree during Clearlake Capital’s first season as owners.

Current ETV

Mykhailo Mudryk

F, M (L)

Tottenham

Mykhailo Mudryk

F, M (L)

Tottenham

ETV Range

€27.6M - €33.7M

The west London giants spent €329.5m on eight new signings in the winter window, and Mudryk was one of their most high-profile additions, alongside Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez and France defender Benoit Badiashile.

However, Srna has revealed that Mudryk wanted to complete a move to Arsenal following talks with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. Despite this, Shakhtar eventually agreed a deal with Chelsea.

“Misha talked to Arteta. I talked to the Chelsea coach. And, probably, at that moment he liked Arteta more,” Srna admitted (via Football.London).

“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.”

© IMAGO - Mykhailo Mudryk is on loan at Tottenham

Mykhailo Mudryk transfer latest

Mudryk was cleared to return to competitive football this summer, after the FA reduced his ban for doping, and following weeks of transfer negotiations, he officially reunited with former Shakhtar boss Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur on Transfer Deadline Day.

The 25-year-old has completed a season-long loan move to Spurs and it’s understood that an €88m (£75m) option-to-buy clause has been included in the transfer.

However, Mudryk has missed Spurs’ last three matches due to an ankle injury and he may struggle to work his way into De Zerbi’s preferred XI upon his return to fitness following the summer arrivals of Omar Marmoush and Savio.

Chelsea were initially keen to send the winger on loan to Leeds United or sister club Strasbourg, but they rejected several offers from the former, while Mudryk turned down the chance to join the latter due to his desire to remain in the Premier League.