Chelsea winger Mudryk set for Kong friendly vs Juventus

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk could make his first appearance for the club in nearly two years during a preseason friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Manager Xabi Alonso confirmed the player is available for selection just days after Mudryk’s 20-month suspension for a doping violation was lifted.

Mudryk, 25, joined the squad in Hong Kong on Monday after his case with the Football Association was resolved. He had been provisionally suspended in December 2024 following an adverse finding for a low concentration of the banned substance meldonium in a routine test. He was later charged and received a four-year ban in January 2026, a decision he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The matter was resolved last week when, following discussions involving the FA and the World Anti-Doping Agency, Mudryk accepted the violations and agreed to a period of ineligibility equal to the time already served. The FA confirmed he is no longer suspended and can resume his career immediately.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Alonso expressed his delight at having the Ukrainian international back with the team. He noted that while Mudryk is not...