Mudryk has already matched Maradona’s special feat, not even Messi has achieved it

Chelsea-bound Mykhailo Mudryk has achieved a feat not even Lionel Messi has managed.

Graham Potter’s side have completed an £88.5million deal for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mudryk, with the 22-year-old signing an eight-and-a-half-year contract.

Yesterday, Chelsea’s co-owner Behdad Eghbali and director of global transfers Paul Winstanley flew to a Shakhtar training camp in Turkey to complete a deal for the player.

The winger then flew to the UK to undergo a medical, which was completed Sunday morning.

The Blues will reportedly pay £62million up front along with £26.5million in add-ons, which include winning the Champions League, Premier League and other performance-related conditions.

It’s a hefty price tag, though one justified by Mudryk’s performances for Shakhtar this term, where he has contributed towards 18 goals in just 18 appearances.

Mudyrk’s standing ovation

Mudryk began attracting significant interest from the biggest teams on the continent after his Champions League performances against Celtic, RB Leipzig and Real Madrid.

Indeed, despite not finding the net against Los Blancos the Santiago Bernabeu home support was full of admiration for the Ukraine international's display.

When Mudryk was replaced by Manor Solomon in 2021 when Real beat Shakhtar 2-1, the Madridistas rose to their feet and gave the youngster a standing ovation.

The winger had tormented Dani Carvajal and Casemiro throughout though failed to find the net.

In earning a standing ovation at the Bernabeu, Mudryk achieved a feat only replicated by legends of the game.

The Ukrainian joined Andres Iniesta (La Liga, November 2015), Ronaldinho (La Liga, November 2005) and Diego Maradona (Copa del Rey final, 1983) in an elite class.

Not even Messi, who has scored 15 goals at the Bernabeu, has been honoured in such a way.

Mudryk recieved a standing ovation for his performance against Real Madrid (Alamy)

Arsenal hijack

League leaders Arsenal had been pursuing Mudryk for months, having identified him as their No.1 target for the January window.

However, Chelsea swooped in on Friday, reportedly offering the attacker a wage of over £ 100,000 a week, more than double what Arsenal were prepared to pay.

Mudryk is Chelsea’s fifth signing of the January window, with the club having already added David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Andrey Santos on permanent deals, as well as Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix on loan.

Topics: Football, Chelsea, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Transfers, Arsenal

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.