Leeds United Miss Out on Mykhailo Mudryk as Tottenham Close Deal
Leeds United look set to be beaten to the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk, with the Chelsea winger heading for a medical at Tottenham in a dramatic late twist on deadline day.
Daniel Farke had placed a wide attacker high on his summer wishlist and Leeds were firmly in the race for the Ukrainian, with talks progressing as the clock ticked towards the 11pm cut-off. Then Spurs moved. Fast.
The north London club have jumped to the front of the queue and are now poised to take Mudryk on a paid loan from Chelsea, with a buy option of £75 million included in the agreement, according to multiple reports.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano underlined the scale of the move on X, reporting that “everything [is] agreed also on personal terms” and that the deal includes a non-mandatory purchase clause. Mudryk is expected to link up again with Roberto De Zerbi, under whom he previously flourished.
It caps another eye-catching window for De Zerbi’s side. Spurs have already poured serious money and faith into their squad, bringing in Andy Robertson on a free from Liverpool, Marcos Senesi on a free from Bournemouth, Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m from Brighton, Martin Dubravka on a free from Burnley, Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham, Sandro Tonali for £92.5m from Newcastle United, Savinho for £75m from Manchester City and Omar Marmoush on loan from City.
Now Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo are both due for medicals as Spurs raid Chelsea twice in one swoop, reinforcing both attack and defence from a direct London rival.
Mudryk’s story adds another layer of intrigue. The 25-year-old was handed a four-year suspension in 2024 after failing a drug test that detected a low concentration of the banned substance meldonium. He has not played since November of that year. An appeal eventually cleared the way for his return, with his doping ban resolved and permission to resume his career granted at the end of last month.
For Leeds, missing out on the Ukrainian shifts the focus back to what they already have on the flanks – and who might be next.
The setback could open the door wider for two Welsh internationals in Yorkshire. Daniel James and Harry Wilson both operate in the wide attacking roles Mudryk would have contested. Wilson arrived on a free from Fulham in the summer and is pushing to nail down a starting place. James, meanwhile, is desperate to reset his career after an injury-ravaged 18 months that stalled his momentum.
Farke’s determination to add more firepower in the final third keeps the pressure firmly on that pair. Leeds finished 14th in the Premier League last season and the hierarchy at Elland Road are intent on climbing the table, not standing still.
There is also the looming situation of Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian is expected to leave for Fiorentina, but Leeds will only sign off on that move if they secure a replacement. With Mudryk slipping away, that task becomes even more urgent as the hours drain from the window.
The deadline is 11pm. Leeds still want a winger. Spurs have just taken one off the market. The next few hours will decide whether Elland Road goes into the new season feeling underpowered or unexpectedly refreshed out wide.
