Chelsea are set to retain approximately £26 million (€30 million) in performance-related bonuses following the prolonged absence of Mykhailo Mudryk, as confirmed by Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Serhii Palkin. The 25-year-old winger, who joined Chelsea in January 2023 for an initial £62 million, has not played competitively since November 2024 after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. Mudryk was formally charged by the Football Association in June 2025 and is currently serving a provisional suspension while awaiting a final disciplinary verdict from WADA.
Shakhtar confirm significant financial deficit
The structure of the deal that brought Mudryk to Stamford Bridge relied heavily on achievable add-ons, which could have seen the total fee rise to £88 million. However, with the Ukrainian international sidelined for over 15 months and training privately in Uxbridge, those triggers remain unmet. Speaking to Tribuna, Serhii Palkin noted that the club risks losing the entire €30 million package, stating: "If he's not playing, or Chelsea aren't reaching results, we are losing that amount. That is a big financial impact for us." This shortfall comes at a time when Chelsea are under intense scrutiny regarding Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), and the unspent bonus figures will provide an unintended but necessary buffer for their balance sheet.
Contractual revisions and Chelsea's squad outlook
Recent FA agents' fees reports indicate Chelsea "revised" Mudryk's contract in April 2026, though the specific nature of these tweaks remains undisclosed. Given Mudryk's current deal runs until 2031, the club likely sought to protect their position against potential gross misconduct should a lengthy ban be upheld. Tactically, Mudryk’s absence has forced Chelsea to look elsewhere; the winger had struggled to justify his price tag even before the suspension, contributing only seven goals in his first 58 Premier League appearances. Comparison to the recent Paul Pogba doping case suggests Chelsea could eventually consider contract termination or a heavily subsidised loan to a BlueCo affiliate like Strasbourg if he is cleared to return.
WADA President Witold Bańka has confirmed the agency is waiting for the initial disciplinary decision before considering a further appeal.