Xabi Alonso delighted as Mykhailo Mudryk finally returns to Chelsea

The Ukraine international has not played for Chelsea since November 2024, but the English Football Association confirmed on Friday that disciplinary proceedings had been resolved in agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, allowing him to return immediately.

Speaking after Chelsea's 2-1 pre-season defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday, Alonso said Mudryk would now travel with the squad to Hong Kong for the next stage of their tour.

"I am very happy for him, and for me too, but mostly for him," Alonso said.

"We want him to feel part of the team because he has been training on his own for such a long time. Now he needs to be back with the group."

Alonso admitted it was too early to decide what role Mudryk would play this season after such a lengthy absence from competitive football.

"We have to see what happens because he has not been playing for a long time," he said.

"To be honest, we were not expecting to receive this great news."

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi, who worked with Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk before his move to Chelsea, also welcomed the decision.

"He is a lovely guy and a great player," De Zerbi said.

"I hope he can show everyone his quality this season after everything he has gone through over the last two years."

Chelsea's defeat to Spurs came in front of a crowd of 80,363 in Sydney, but the biggest boost for the Blues was the return of Mudryk, who now has the opportunity to rebuild his career after a long spell away from the game.