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Why did Mykhailo Mudryk choose Chelsea over Arsenal?
Mykhailo Mudryk’s £100 million transfer to Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk brings an end to one of the most highlighted transfer sagas of January.
Despite appearing almost destined to sign with Premier League rivals Arsenal early in the window, the Ukrainian has signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Early on, Arsenal had named Mudryk as their priority target for January. In order to close a deal as soon as possible, they were in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk as early as December.
Mudryk said outright that he would find it difficult to reject Arsenal because the deal plainly appealed to him as well.
“Arsenal are a very good team,” he explained. “A very good coach. I like the way they play. From my side, I can’t say no.”
Although there is much more to it than that, it appears that he has snubbed Arsenal.
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Main reason Mykhailo Mudryk choose Chelsea over Arsenal.
Depending on your perspective, the answer to that question might be either that Chelsea wanted him more or that Arsenal didn’t want him enough.
Even while Arsenal was able to make an early arrangement with Mudryk, they were never able to do so with Shakhtar.
Although the Gunners were prepared to make a sizable payment for Mudryk, the Ukrainian club objected to the deal’s format. Arsenal preferred less upfront content and more add-ons, whereas they preferred more up-front content and fewer achievement-based add-ons.
In terms of their transfer policy, which is currently far harsher than Chelsea’s, Arsenal were remaining steadfast. Although that’s admirable, it also provided an entry point for their London rivals.
Chelsea gave Mudryk much higher pay while also rapidly agreeing to Shakhtar’s terms of more guaranteed wages.
According to some reports, Chelsea offered Mudryk more than £100,000, whilst Arsenal reportedly wouldn’t pay him more than £50,000. It was a difficult package to compete with when you consider that it was offered in addition to the eight-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal was then faced with the choice of adjusting their existing transfer and wage structures to accommodate Mudryk or walking away from the deal on the grounds that the numbers did not add up. By selecting the latter, they made it easy for Chelsea to capture their target.
However, Chelsea have completed the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, the Premier League club has announced.
The Ukraine international has signed an eight-and-a-half-year deal, with the Blues paying Shakhtar a reported £62million – possibly rising to £88m.
The 22-year-old was in attendance for Chelsea’s game against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
“I’m so happy to sign for Chelsea,” Mudryk told the club’s website.
“This is a huge club, in a fantastic league and it is a very attractive project for me at this stage of my career. I’m excited to meet my new team-mates and I’m looking forward to working and learning under Graham Potter and his staff.”