The transfer of Mykhailo Mudryk to Tottenham in the dying days of the transfer window has taken many by surprise. Initially, Leeds was the frontrunner for the Ukrainian winger, but the London club seized the initiative and struck a deal with Chelsea for a loan.
BBC Football reporter Nizaar Kinsella confirmed the details. Mudryk's move marks a historic moment, being the first player to switch directly from Chelsea to Tottenham in 17 years, and the first since 1992 to join the Spurs on loan.
Tottenham initially targeted Gakpo and Ndiaye
Prior to Mudryk's arrival, Tottenham had explored other options to bolster their attack.
The North Londoners were in talks with Liverpool regarding Cody Gakpo, but the Merseysiders opted to keep hold of the Dutchman.
They then made progress with Everton over a deal for Iliman Ndiaye, only for Manchester City to swoop in, resulting in the Senegalese heading to Manchester instead.
This left Tottenham scrambling for alternatives, leading them to shift their focus towards Mudryk.
Leeds were the frontrunners
Throughout most of the window, Leeds were generally considered the favourites to snap up the winger.
The Yorkshire outfit had proposed loan terms to Chelsea that included covering Mudryk's wages and even kicking in financial penalties for Chelsea should he not get enough game time.
Negotiations dragged on for over two weeks, with BBC reporting at least two offers from Leeds that Chelsea turned down.
Despite Leeds being keen, Mudryk himself fancied a move to them, allowing the club to remain hopeful of finalising the deal.
Brentford also expressed interest, looking to include a buy option in the agreement, but Chelsea rejected this proposal.
Chelsea and Tottenham struck at the critical moment
The tide turned when Chelsea and Tottenham engaged in direct talks over not just Mudryk, but also a permanent transfer for Tosin Adarabioyo.
This simultaneous negotiation helped Chelsea trim their squad while settling Mudryk's future.
Ultimately, Mudryk joined Tottenham on a season-long loan, featuring an option to buy set at £75 million.
While the activation of this option appears unlikely for now, the hefty fee does set a benchmark for a potential future sale should Chelsea opt to permanently part ways with Mudryk.
Reuniting with De Zerbi
A pivotal factor in Mudryk's transfer was the relationship with Roberto De Zerbi.
The Italian manager previously worked with Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk, referring to the player as his "football son."
Now, De Zerbi has the chance to help revive the 25-year-old's career after more than 20 months without competitive football.
Mudryk has already made his Tottenham debut, coming off the bench against Nottingham Forest; signalling his first official outing since November 2024.
