Chelsea has made a bold move by taking away the No. 10 shirt from Mykhailo Mudryk following his suspension due to a failed drugs test.
The Ukrainian winger, who signed for a whopping £89 million from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, hasn’t appeared on the pitch since November after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.
Cole Palmer Takes Over the Famous Jersey
In a clear signal that Mudryk’s time with the iconic No. 10 shirt is on hold, Chelsea announced that Cole Palmer will be the new wearer of the number.
Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City in September 2023 and had been sporting the No. 20 shirt, will officially switch ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
His debut in the No. 10 jersey is expected to come at the FIFA Club World Cup, with the Blues facing Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on June 16.
Chelsea’s official statement didn’t even mention Mudryk’s name, instead focusing solely on Palmer’s number change and reminding fans that squad numbers for the new season will be finalized after the summer transfer window closes.
For now, Mudryk is expected to receive a new shirt number once the season kicks off.
Mudryk’s Quiet Presence During Chelsea’s Big Moments
Even though Mudryk has been sidelined, he recently made a rare public appearance in Poland, cheering on his teammates during the Conference League final.
Surprisingly, Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca wasn’t aware that Mudryk was in the country during his pre-match press conference.
The 24-year-old winger joined the celebrations after Chelsea’s impressive 4-1 win over Real Betis, posing with teammates and proudly wearing a winners’ medal.
Earlier in the competition, Mudryk had scored three goals in four appearances.
This appearance was notable because since his positive drug test and provisional suspension in December, Mudryk has mostly kept a low profile, avoiding the spotlight.
Mudryk’s Response to the Failed Drugs Test
When news broke about the positive test, Mudryk quickly addressed the situation on social media, insisting he hadn’t done anything wrong.
He expressed shock over the test results and said he was cooperating fully to understand how the banned substance ended up in his system.
His statement read: “I can confirm I have been notified that a sample I provided to the FA contained a banned substance.
This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.
I know I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful I will be back on the pitch soon.”
Staying Active Away From Football
Despite being suspended, Mudryk kept busy, attending high-profile events such as the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury heavyweight rematch in Saudi Arabia.
His social media presence was quiet for the early part of 2025, but in April, he broke his silence with a small but emotional gesture — responding to a Chelsea highlight video from a past match against Fulham with a single sad tear emoji.
What Lies Ahead for Mudryk and Chelsea
Mudryk’s future at Chelsea remains uncertain.
With the No. 10 shirt now officially taken by Palmer, fans are left wondering when and how the Ukrainian winger will return to the team.
As Chelsea prepares for the new season and international tournaments, all eyes will be on Mudryk to see if he can bounce back from this setback and reclaim his spot on the pitch.