Everything you need to know about Chelsea winger Mudryk

Chelsea moved shortly to agree a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk, regardless of Arsenal having been favourites after submitting three earlier bids to land the 22-year-old Ukraine worldwide.

The Blues bought their man for a €70 million switch price, plus one other €30m in potential add-ons, with Shakhtar holding out for a complete bundle of €100m for a participant who has solely just lately damaged via correctly in his profession.

Mudryk has scored seven targets and registered six assists in 12 video games of the Ukrainian Premier Liga this season, however he caught the attention of Europe’s elite golf equipment within the Champions League as Shakhtar sealed progress to the Europa League knockout stage with the assistance of his three targets and two assists from six video games.

The winger first arrived at Shakhtar aged 15 and was given his senior debut by Paulo Fonseca in a 2018 Ukrainian Cup recreation on the age of 17, earlier than a few mortgage spells noticed him proceed his improvement at Arsenal Kyiv and Desna Chernihiv.

Then-Shakhtar coach Roberto De Zerbi gave him an opportunity within the 2021-22 marketing campaign and he by no means appeared again, making his senior Ukraine debut within the 3-1 win in opposition to Scotland within the World Cup playoff at Hampden Park final June and occurring to cement his place within the first XI amid the upheaval of the warfare with Russia.

Known as “Misha” to his mates, Mudryk has “Only Jesus” tattooed on his neck and “Dear God, if today I lose my hope please remind me that your plans are better than my dreams” on his chest.

With assist from our resident scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen, right here is all the pieces you need to know about the 22-year-old that Chelsea have spent a lot cash to signal to an unimaginable 8½ yr contract.

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Position

Mudryk performed on the left wing for Shakhtar, and left of a entrance three for Ukraine. He is true footed, so typically cuts inside to shoot on his stronger foot and makes use of his tempo to break via the line of defense.

By the numbers

Mudryk’s Champions League profession is simply six video games outdated up to now, however he has made a big effect.

Touches: 262
Pass accuracy: 81.1%
Chances created: 5
Assists: 2
Shots: 9
Shots on Target: 66.7%
Goals: 3
Expected targets: 1.11

Strengths

A right-footed inverted winger who thrives when dribbling at opponents and chopping in diagonally on his stronger foot, the Ukraine worldwide is inventive, technically gifted and stuffed with acceleration, whereas he can attain high velocity straight away.

His willingness to dribble is almost off the charts (eight dribbles per 90 minutes within the Champions League is spectacular) and he has improved his weaker foot, which makes him exhausting to learn in one-vs.-one conditions. He can hit a advantageous shot and would not thoughts going it alone, the place he can produce a purpose or a defence-splitting help (1.33 key passes per 90 within the UCL) in a burst of sudden creativity.

Despite his penchant for particular person actions with occasional extreme ball losses, he is an enhancing mixture participant too. The swiftness of how he executes his actions (the change of tempo, darting off-the-ball runs, instinctive decision-making) is an impressive characteristic and one of many foremost the reason why he is so enticing as a participant.

Mudryk has a low centre of gravity and his capability to improvise when seemingly operating out of choices makes him powerful to cease for defenders and enjoyable to look ahead to followers.— Karlsen.

How he can enhance

Mudryk may be very single-minded when it comes to his dribbling and tends to purpose instantly for purpose, which may work as a optimistic typically however makes him much less conscious of teammates round him. His retention of the ball might use some work (9 losses per 90 within the Champions League is lots), however he’s a high-risk participant who can reap the benefits of any weak spot in a defence.

His angle was clearly a difficulty in his early years however De Zerbi helped him and he has now matured with a special strategy to his commerce. Defensively, he tracks again however wants to work out how to use his physique successfully and acquire some energy. Relatively untested in high flight soccer, he ought to refine his attributes with age and expertise. — Karlsen

In quotes

Mudryk instructed The Times about his finest place: “It’s more comfortable for me when I play on the line where I can show all my potential one against one. I have more space to move to the front and I can create a lot more chances when I play on the line.

“There are extra folks within the center. But, you know, the center can also be OK for me. My inspiration is Cristiano Ronaldo due to what you can do if you work exhausting and consider in your self. I like the best way Cristiano performs. I see myself like that — a winger. But I need extra time to change my place from No. 11 or No. 7 to No. 9. With time it’s attainable.”

Darijo Srna, Shakhtar’s director of football, told CBS Sports: “Mudryk is a severe expertise. After Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, he is the very best participant in Europe in his place. If somebody needs to purchase Mudryk they need to spend some huge cash and respect our membership and president.”

Shakhtar captain Taras Stepanenko instructed The Athletic: “His angle for me was not superb for a younger participant. He typically did not hear what the coach mentioned to him. I attempted to communicate with him to ship him one thing Xavi, the Barcelona coach, mentioned about the younger gamers. It was an excellent interview about younger gamers and the way they need to have [the right] angle.”

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi in a news conference: “I feel Mudryk can win the Ballon d’Or sooner or later. I know the worth of Mudryk, he has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or.”

How will he match at Chelsea?

Chelsea boss Graham Potter is a fan and reportedly performed a big position in signing Mudryk. Though the winger’s favoured place on the left wing is at the moment occupied by Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and typically Raheem Sterling (when not enjoying a 3-5-2), accidents and lack of type within the squad ought to give him an opportunity to shine.

The Blues have struggled up entrance this season — scoring the identical variety of targets as Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (21) — however Mudryk could find a way to adapt to change into a No. 9 striker. He will definitely add to their purpose menace within the second half of the season, no matter the place Potter slots him into the system.