Why is Mykhailo Mudryk not playing for Chelsea vs Real Betis in the 2025 UEFA Conference League final?

This Wednesday afternoon at the Wrocław Stadium in Poland, the final of the 2025 UEFA Conference League will take place. Chelsea and Real Betis will battle for one of Europe’s most prestigious international titles. However, one of the English side’s star players, Mykhailo Mudryk, will not be part of the squad.

Mudryk has been provisionally suspended by The Football Association (FA), the governing body of soccer in England, since late 2024 after testing positive for meldonium in an anti-doping control. This substance is banned for professional players because it provides an unfair advantage by enhancing oxygen utilization and accelerating energy restoration in the body.

The last match the Ukrainian winger played was on November 28 of last year, when he completed the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 2–0 win over FC Heidenheim during the Conference League group stage. Three days later, he was on the bench in the Premier League match against Aston Villa, and he has been sidelined ever since.

This situation will remain unresolved until there is a final decision on his case. As the club awaits the results of the B sample analysis, Mykhailo could face a severe sanction—up to four years of suspension from official competitions at both the club and international level. It is important to note that Mudryk has denied any knowledge of having taken a banned substance.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca

Mudryk traveled to Poland to support Chelsea

Despite being sidelined for more than six months and with his future uncertain pending the outcome of the counter-analysis, Mykhailo Mudryk still traveled to Poland to support his teammates in their pursuit of Chelsea’s tenth international title.

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And that’s not all. If the Blues secure a favorable result and win the 2025 UEFA Conference League, Mudryk will even be eligible to receive a medal. That’s because he played in four matches during the competition before being suspended—scoring three goals and providing three assists.

However, it’s unclear whether Chelsea agree with this scenario. In fact, during the pre-match press conference ahead of the final against Real Betis, head coach Enzo Maresca was asked about Mudryk’s presence and seemed caught off guard: “To be honest, I just… I don’t know, he is here or is coming? He is here? I don’t know. I am happy for Mischa to be here.”

How much did Chelsea pay for Mudryk?

Mykhailo Mudryk’s transfer generated major buzz in England, as it was one of the most expensive deals of all time. The London club paid £89 million (around $120 million), including add-ons, for the winger in January 2023 after he broke out with FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

However, things didn’t unfold as expected. Mudryk never reached the level of performance anticipated from such a high-priced signing. In nearly two years with the Blues, he appeared in 73 matches, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists.