Mudryk’s long‑awaited Chelsea debut sparks new hope for Alonso

In a pre‑season friendly at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium on 5 August 2026, Mykhailo Mudryk made his first Chelsea appearance in two years, coming on in the 74th minute of a 0‑0 loss to Juventus under manager Xabi Alonso. The report was filed by KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER.

Published at 15:40 BST on August 5, 2026 and updated at 16:37 BST, the piece notes that Alonso had already made 11 substitutions by that stage – four at half‑time and another seven after the 65th minute – leaving uncertainty over whether the 25‑year‑old would see the field.

Danny Welbeck started as striker, holding the ball up before Joao Pedro shifted to the No 10 role; Nicolas Jackson was replaced at half‑time to make way for Mudryk, while Cole Palmer temporarily wore the No 10 shirt with Mudryk taking No 43. Robert Sanchez guarded the goal for the first 45 minutes before Mike Penders took over for the second half.

At the 80th minute, Alonso called Mudryk over, stripped him, and the crowd applauded as the Ukrainian entered the pitch, pointing to the heavens in a moment of celebration. His teammates rose to their feet, marking the end of a long period of training in solitude.

Mudryk displayed flashes of his former speed, reaching a ball that seemed destined for a goal‑kick and earning a cheer from the Kai Tak Stadium crowd, though his first pass back gave away possession. The Ukrainian’s fine poker face concealed the emotions of a player returning after a 600‑day suspension.

Later, Edon Zhegrova struck a 20‑yard curler that Penders could not reach, highlighting the uneven pitch that challenged Alonso’s style of play. Moises Caicedo continued to test the defense with passes over the top, while Marco Palestra’s pace was noted as a potential asset for future combinations.

The friendly concluded with Juventus ahead, and Chelsea’s squad will have downtime in Hong Kong on Thursday before flying to Jakarta on Friday for a match against AC Milan on Saturday. We will need to wait to assess the impact of the new signings on the upcoming season.

Mudryk’s return the £89 million signing is back, prompting clubs to approach Chelsea for next‑season plans. The Blues have also secured left‑back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano for £16.3 million plus add‑ons, and Marco Palestra, signed from Atalanta, is already impressing. Insiders deny any enquiry for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, stating confidence in Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders for the new campaign.