‘I Sold Premier League Star to Chelsea — He Wanted to Join Arteta at Arsenal’
Mikel Arteta came close to landing Mykhailo Mudryk for Arsenal in January 2023, but Chelsea ultimately won the race for the Ukrainian winger.
Arteta was heavily involved in Arsenal’s pursuit of Mudryk, who was viewed as an ideal option for the Gunners’ left wing. The youngster had impressed at Shakhtar Donetsk with his explosive pace, skill and attacking ability, attracting interest from several major clubs.
According to former Shakhtar director of football Darijo Srna, Mudryk actually preferred the idea of working with Arteta at Arsenal after speaking with the Spanish manager.
Srna explained that while Mudryk had a conversation with Arteta, Shakhtar were simultaneously negotiating with Chelsea. Although the player appeared to favour Arsenal, the final decision ultimately came down to the clubs.
Chelsea eventually secured Mudryk in a deal worth up to £88 million, including performance-related add-ons. Srna revealed that Chelsea’s financial proposal was significantly better than Arsenal’s, making it impossible for Shakhtar to accept the Gunners’ offer.
Arteta later explained that Arsenal chose not to match Chelsea’s bid because the club wanted to maintain discipline and remain consistent with its transfer strategy.
Mudryk’s time at Chelsea, however, failed to live up to expectations. He struggled to establish himself as a regular starter and his career suffered another major setback after traces of the banned substance meldonium were detected in an out-of-competition test in October 2024.
The Ukrainian was subsequently handed a four-year suspension by the FA in 2026, although his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport eventually resulted in an agreement that allowed him to return to competitive football.
With opportunities limited at Chelsea, Mudryk later moved to Tottenham on loan, where Roberto De Zerbi pushed for his arrival. His Spurs debut ended in a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest before an injury in training ruled him out for several weeks.
The revelation that Mudryk wanted Arsenal before Chelsea’s superior offer changed the outcome adds another twist to one of the most talked-about transfer battles of recent years.
