Everything you need to know about Mykhailo Mudryk of Ukraine and Chelsea!
Mykhailo Mudryk is a Ukrainian professional footballer who now plays for Premier League club Chelsea and the Ukraine national team as a winger. He was born in Krasnohrad, Ukraine, on January 5, 2001.
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Mudryk began his football career in 2010 with Metalist Kharkiv before joining Dnipro’s academy four years later in 2014. Shakhtar Donetsk, a Ukraine Premier League giant, took notice of his remarkable performances and invited him to join their academy in 2016.
Mudryk was promoted to Shakhtar Donetsk’s senior team during the 2018-19 season, but after only one game, he was loaned out to fellow league side Arsenal Kyiv for the remainder of the season. In the following seasons, he made intermittent appearances for Shakhtar before returning on loan to Desna Chernihiv in the summer of 2020.
Mudryk found his footing and ultimately broke through with manager Roberto De Zerbi. During the 2022-23 season, the winger demonstrated his talent to the football world by scoring 10 goals in 18 appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk. As a result, he was named Ukrainian Footballer of the Year as well as Shakhtar’s Player of the Year.
Mudryk’s excellent exploits drew the attention of European powerhouses. On January 15, 2023, the winger signed for Chelsea for a sum of €70 million (which could grow to €100 million), making him the most expensive Ukrainian player of all time and the most expensive transfer in Ukrainian Premier League history.
Mudryk made his official debut for Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland on June 1, 2022, which his team won 3-1. He has made nine appearances for his country since then but has yet to open his account.
Here are 13 interesting facts about Mykhailo Mudryk that you should know.
• Terrified of the dark
As a child, the Chelsea winger, like many others, was terrified of the dark and struggled to sleep. When he closed his eyes, he imagined demons and other terrifying things.
Mudryk’s grandma, on the other hand, played a critical part in assisting the little lad in overcoming his fear. She advised him to pray and sign the cross before going to bed to be protected from all evil when he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
• Misha is a nickname for
Mudryk is called “Misha” by his family and friends, which means “God-like.” The nickname is fairly prevalent in Ukraine and is frequently given to young children by loved ones.
• Tattoos with religious themes
Based on the tattoos on his body, it is apparent that Mudryk is religious. The first is the tattoo of “Only Jesus” on his neck. Mudryk has a tattoo that says “Dear God, if today I lose hope, please remind me that your plans are better than my dreams” on his breast.
• Ukraine’s most expensive footballer
When Mudryk joins Chelsea for €70 million (increasing to €100 million) in 2023, he will become not just the most expensive transfer in Ukrainian Premier League history, but also the most expensive Ukrainian player of all time.
While he will have to work hard to live up to his price tag, Shakhtar Donetsk Director of Football Darijo Srna feels he is the world’s greatest winger after Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe.
Bayer Leverkusen came before Arsenal and Chelsea.
Mudryk was predominantly associated with Arsenal throughout the past transfer window, with Chelsea unexpectedly taking him from their rival’s hands. Throughout the entire drama, he was upfront about his desire to join the Gunners, expressing his desire through social media posts and interviews.
During last summer’s transfer window, though, the attacker was linked with a move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and was open about joining them. Rumors tying him to a Bundesliga club came to nothing.
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Some Arsenal fans may be surprised that the Ukrainian winger did not join them during the previous transfer window, given how open he was about wanting to play for them. Mudryk has played for the Gunners…or, at the very least, a club with a similar name.
During his early days at Shakhtar Donetsk, he was loaned out to fellow Ukrainian Premier League team Arsenal Kyiv, for whom Mudryk played 10 games, scoring zero goals and providing zero assists.
Brentford was openly rejected.
Mudryk was also drawing interest from another London club, Premier League side Brentford, during the summer transfer window. He was quick to dismiss any notion that he will quit Shakhtar Donetsk to join them.
“With all due respect, I will not be relocating to Brentford.” They are a mid-table Premier League team that does not compete in European Cup competitions. The Champions League is the most essential thing to me,” Mudryk stated.
• Wasn’t always the appropriate attitude
Mudryk’s former club Shakhtar Donetsk captain Taras Stepanenko told The Athletic that the winger lacked the proper mindset for a young player and would frequently ignore what his coaches advised him.
Stepanenko would try to persuade the future Chelsea forward to listen to him and even forwarded an interview with Barcelona coach Xavi on how young players should behave to enhance his behavior.
Neymar, a Ukrainian,
Mudryk has been dubbed the “Ukrainian Neymar” due to his playing style, with many fans and analysts believing he plays similarly to the PSG and Brazil winger.
Of course, the Chelsea forward has a long way to go before he can even attempt to match what Neymar has done on the pitch, but being compared to the Brazilian icon so early in his career would be an accolade for Mudryk.
Ronaldo is a role model for him.
While the former Shakhtar Donetsk winger has been compared to Neymar, Mudryk claimed in an interview with The Times that the player he most admires is former Manchester United and current Al Nassr great Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is my inspiration because he exemplifies what you can achieve if you work hard and believe in yourself.” Cristiano’s style of play appeals to me. “I see myself as a winger,” he explained.
• Aspirations to be a striker in the future
While Mudryk has largely played as a winger throughout his career, and most managers believe he is best suited there right now, the Chelsea star aspires to be more versatile in the attack.
He has claimed that he wants to play as a number nine like his idol Cristiano in the future, but he understands that he has done much more to be as successful as the former Real Madrid star.
• A viral Tik-Tok video
Mudryk has become a household name in football following his ties to Arsenal earlier this season, followed by his move to Chelsea. However, the Ukrainian forward rose to notoriety in 2020 thanks to his Tik-Tok account.
He and his brother would post videos of the two performing various abilities, which made him popular on the social media site and helped him acquire traction even though he hadn’t proven himself to be the prospect he is today.
I’ve never been to a club.
Aside from the pitch and the training facility, football players may also be found in nightclubs. Stars frequently visit to celebrate a victory or special occasion, as well as to relax. Mudryk, on the other hand, appears to be an exception, as he has never gone clubbing.
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Mudryk, like his idol Ronaldo, appears hell-bent on improving his physical condition and skills through a strict lifestyle, which is why he can be spotted at the gym in Cobham even after hours.
