Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been banned from football for four years after a failed doping test, with the player now appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Football Association's maximum punishment was confirmed this week, with Mudryk having already served an 18-month provisional suspension since late 2024. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Mudryk filed his appeal on 25 February 2026, with written submissions being exchanged but no hearing date yet set.
The Ukraine international has consistently denied knowingly taking a banned substance. If his appeal fails at CAS, he will be prohibited from playing professionally until late 2028 and is currently barred from training with his Chelsea teammates. This development casts a long shadow over the 25-year-old's career at Stamford Bridge, where he arrived in a high-profile £88.5 million transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 but struggled for consistent form prior to his suspension.
In other Chelsea transfer news, defender Marc Cucurella is reportedly pushing for a move to Barcelona this summer. According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, the left-back is concerned about the direction of the BlueCo project and desires a return to his native Spain. Barcelona's interest is tempered by their priority to retain Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde, but the report suggests Cucurella is actively seeking the switch.
Meanwhile, striker Nicolas Jackson, currently on loan at Bayern Munich, is attracting interest from Serie A. Bayern have confirmed they will not trigger their purchase option on the Senegalese forward, who will return to Chelsea. According to Florian Plettenberg, Juventus and AC Milan are both monitoring Jackson, with another loan move to Italy considered a likely outcome for the 2026/27 season.
Chelsea's managerial situation is also influencing their transfer strategy. The club is reportedly considering a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza, a player admired by former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso. Alonso, who is currently unattached, has previously praised Maza, and his potential appointment at Stamford Bridge could be linked to such a signing. The Blues have yet to confirm their permanent manager for next season.
Further competition is expected for Chelsea's other targets, with The Athletic reporting that Newcastle's Anthony Gordon is open to a summer move. While Chelsea retain an interest, Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also in the running for the England winger, though Liverpool's pursuit has reportedly cooled. These developments point to a significant summer of change at Stamford Bridge, with outgoings and potential managerial appointments shaping their rebuild.
