Mudryk Set for Tottenham Debut as De Zerbi Aims for Rebirth
Mykhailo Mudryk is finally back. And this time, he walks into a dressing room that believes it can rebuild him.
Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed the winger is fit enough to feature this Saturday, clearing the way for a long‑awaited club debut after almost two years in the wilderness.
“I don’t know how much time he needs to be available to start the game,” De Zerbi admitted in his pre-match press conference. “One part of the game, I think he’s ready right now to play 20, 15, 30 minutes.”
For Spurs, searching for a spark under their new head coach, it is a timely boost. For Mudryk, it is a lifeline.
From suspension to second chance
The 25-year-old has not played competitive football since November 2024, his career abruptly halted when a low concentration of meldonium was detected in his system. The substance, a heart medication banned for its impact on recovery and endurance, led to a provisional suspension that effectively wiped out nearly two seasons of his prime.
He trained alone. No team structure, no tactical drills, no match rhythm. Just isolated sessions, a body being kept ready while a career stood still.
The saga finally ended in July, when WADA reached an agreement with the English FA. Under current regulations, the levels recorded in 2024 would not be treated as a positive test. The door opened. Mudryk could return immediately.
Now that return will come in north London.
De Zerbi reunion
Mudryk arrives at Tottenham with baggage from his time at Chelsea, where a huge transfer fee and soaring expectations quickly turned into scrutiny and frustration. The talent never disappeared, but the narrative did: from Ballon d’Or predictions to doubts over whether he would ever fulfil that early promise.
De Zerbi, the man who first unleashed him at Shakhtar Donetsk, has no such doubts.
While Mudryk was frozen out of team environments, the Italian never forgot the player he helped shape in Ukraine, or the bond formed during the early days of the conflict there. He spoke openly about that connection, stressing that the winger’s ability has never been in question.
“The last problem, the suspension, but by the end the potential was clear, is clear,” De Zerbi said. “Now his challenge is to respect all his qualities, because he’s a great player.”
This is not a sentimental reunion, though. De Zerbi is determined to treat Mudryk like any other member of his squad.
“Now I think he’s a normal player like (Micky) Van de Ven, like another player,” he insisted. “If he deserves it, he will play or not.”
No guarantees. Just an opportunity.
Pressure, but on Tottenham’s terms
Mudryk’s price tag still hangs over him. Chelsea paid around £100m four years ago, a fee that instantly placed him among the most scrutinised players in Europe. De Zerbi hasn’t forgotten that either, using it as a reminder of the qualities that once convinced a superclub to gamble big.
“If Chelsea paid 100m four years ago – they bought a lot of big, big players, no? – they thought very well about the qualities of Mudryk,” he said.
The message is clear: the talent that commanded that fee is still there. Spurs now want to be the club that finally benefits from it.
De Zerbi, though, is determined to strip away the noise.
“He has to feel this season, to live this season in the right way, not too much pressure,” the head coach added.
That balance will define what comes next. Tottenham need immediate impact. Mudryk needs patience and rhythm after so long away. Somewhere between those two demands lies his season.
On Saturday, it starts with 15, maybe 20, maybe 30 minutes. After nearly two years out, that brief spell could tell Spurs – and Mudryk himself – whether this comeback is just a footnote, or the beginning of the career he was always supposed to have.
