Mykhailo Mudryk's Pets

Mykhailo Mudryk is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Premier League club Chelsea and the Ukraine national team, and has set records for being the most expensive Ukrainian footballer of all time.

Mudryk’s journey in professional football began with Ukrainian academies of Metalist Kharkiv and Dnipro, moving on to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2016. His debut came two years later, signaling the start of a career that would see him loaned to Arsenal Kyiv and Desna Chernihiv. In 2023, his switch to Chelsea broke records, not just within Ukraine but also in the English Premier League, with a transfer fee of an initial €70 million (£62 million).

Over the years, Mudryk has had the opportunity to collaborate with various influential figures in the football world. Notable teammates have included the likes of Luís Castro at Shakhtar, and more recently, being part of a Chelsea roster that boasts players like Timo Werner, N’Golo Kanté, and Mason Mount. His career was significantly impacted by Shakhtar manager Roberto De Zerbi, who trusted him as a young player. Other influential individuals include managers and players Desna Chernihiv and Arsenal Kyiv.

Mudryk helped Shakhtar Donetsk win the Ukrainian Premier League title in the 2019–2020 season. His individual brilliance was recognized when he was named Shakhtar’s Player of the Month for November and December of 2021. He was also named Ukrainian Footballer of the Year and Shakhtar’s Player of the Year for the 2022–2023 season. After moving to Chelsea, he quickly adapted to the Premier League, recording his first assist in a match against Leicester City.

Internationally, Mudryk has represented Ukraine at various youth levels and made his senior international debut in 2022. His significance for his national side was underlined when he scored the winning goal against Armenia and represented the Ukraine U21 squad at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he provided two assists.