Tottenham Hijacks Mudryk Move from Leeds on Deadline Day

Mykhailo Mudryk is heading for a medical at Tottenham, with Spurs storming in front of Leeds United in the race to sign the Chelsea winger on deadline day.

Leeds had been heavily linked with the Ukrainian, with Daniel Farke pushing hard for a new wide attacker before the 11pm cut-off. A winger sits near the top of his wishlist this summer. It just won’t be Mudryk.

Spurs moved decisively to seize control of the deal. According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham have agreed a paid loan with Chelsea that includes a non-mandatory buy option set at around £75 million. Personal terms are also in place.

Romano wrote on X: “BREAKING: Mykhaylo Mudryk to Tottenham, here we go! Everything agreed also on personal terms. Mudryk joins #THFC on paid loan and also understand there will be a buy option clause not mandatory in the agreement. The Ukrainian will re-join De Zerbi.”

Roberto De Zerbi’s side have already thrown serious weight behind this window. Andy Robertson (free, Liverpool), Marcos Senesi (free, Bournemouth), Jan Paul van Hecke (£52m, Brighton), Martin Dubravka (free, Burnley), Mateus Fernandes (£85m, West Ham), Sandro Tonali (£92.5m, Newcastle United), Savinho (£75m, Manchester City) and Omar Marmoush (loan, Manchester City) have all arrived in an eye-watering summer of recruitment.

Tottenham are now preparing medicals for two more Chelsea players, with Mudryk and defender Tosin Adarabioyo both expected to complete moves from their London rivals.

Mudryk’s story comes with a significant backdrop. The 25-year-old was banned for four years in 2024 after failing a drug test that detected a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance. He has not played since November of that year. His situation shifted only recently, with the winger cleared to return at the end of last month after his doping suspension was resolved on appeal.

Leeds, meanwhile, must quickly pivot. Missing out on Mudryk could open a clearer path for two Welsh wingers already in the building. Daniel James and Harry Wilson now stand to benefit from the collapse of the move, at least in the short term.

Wilson, signed on a free from Fulham in the summer, is pushing to nail down a regular starting role on the flank. James enters the season desperate to reset his career after an injury-hit 18 months that stalled his momentum.

They will know, though, that Farke is not done. The Leeds manager remains determined to strengthen his forward line, a stance that keeps pressure firmly on the current wide options as the club look to improve on last season’s 14th-place Premier League finish.

Another key piece in the puzzle is Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian is expected to leave for Fiorentina, but Leeds will only sanction that move if they secure a replacement. That condition piles even more urgency onto the final hours of the window.

For Leeds, the Mudryk chase looks over. The clock now ticks towards 11pm, and the question is simple: who walks through the Elland Road doors before it stops?