Leeds United are leading the race to sign Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk on transfer deadline day. The club is pushing for a loan deal for the 25-year-old Ukrainian.
Fabrizio Romano said: "Mykhailo Mudryk is set to leave Chelsea before tonight's transfer deadline, with a loan move actively being discussed." Leeds have emerged as the most persistent suitor in recent days. The move is driven by the imminent departure of Wilfried Gnonto, who is closing in on a switch to Fiorentina. This creates a vacancy on the left wing that Mudryk could fill. The transfer window closes at midnight.
Mykhailo Mudryk's profile appears to match what Daniel Farke demands from his wide attackers. The Chelsea man possesses pace, a direct dribbling style, and a preference for cutting inside from the left onto his right foot. In Farke's preferred 4-2-3-1 shape, this vertical threat could cause problems for Premier League defences. The setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin holding up the ball and Brenden Aaronson operating in half-spaces, is designed to create plenty of one-on-one situations out wide for the wingers. A covering left-back would provide the defensive security behind him.
This potential addition comes as Leeds United have started their Premier League campaign with real momentum. They sit 8th in the table with four points from two games, having scored twice and conceded just once. They are only two points behind leaders Manchester City.
Signing Mykhailo Mudryk carries significant risk for Leeds United. The winger has not played a competitive match in the entire 2025/26 season due to an anti-doping suspension, which was lifted in the summer of 2026. This amounts to close to two full years of lost development at the highest level. Although he reintegrated under Xabi Alonso and appeared in a pre-season friendly against Juventus, he is far from match-ready.
Daniel Farke demands pressing discipline and defensive tracking from his wide players to protect the midfield duo of Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach. Historically, Mudryk's defensive awareness has been poor. Farke will not want to risk the team's early momentum by throwing an undercooked player into a high-pressure starting role immediately. The realistic ceiling for Mudryk initially is as an impact substitute used in short bursts while he regains fitness. If he accepts that role, the move could work. If he expects immediate starts, the situation could become problematic.
Should Leeds United secure Mykhailo Mudryk before the deadline, his integration will be carefully managed. His primary objective will be to rebuild his match sharpness after a long absence. Chelsea's bloated options on the wing mean there is no path to regular minutes at Stamford Bridge, making a loan his only viable option to prevent his career from stalling further.
Fabrizio Romano added: "There could yet be surprises depending on how the final hours play out, but one thing is clear: Mudryk himself wants to stay in the Premier League." He has no interest in a move to Ligue 1 with Strasbourg. Leeds face injury concerns with Ilia Gruev, Joe Rodon, and Mateo Joseph currently sidelined, so any new addition must be ready to contribute. The squad's current status is listed on our injuries page.
The final decision is expected before midnight. Leeds United's next challenge is a home fixture against Newcastle United, who are 6th in the table, on September 14, 2026. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
