March 27, 2024

EXCLUSIVE: Why Mykhailo Mudryk signs for Chelsea FC over Arsenal FC despite clubs offering identical £89m transfer fee

Mykhailo Mudryk was signed by Chelsea for £89 million, beating out Arsenal.

Chelsea Transfer News | Arsenal Transfer News 

After months of rumors, Mudryk‘s destiny was finally decided on Sunday as Chelsea completed a deal to sign the hotshot Ukrainian before Arsenal.

In a statement to The Athletic, Sergei Palkin, CEO of Shakhtar Donetsk, reportedly stated: “Overall, it was the same. The 22-year-old was offered the same transfer fee by both teams.

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Not approximately the same — it was the same figure. The fixed part, variable part, bonuses. But if you look inside the fixed part and bonuses, it was completely different.”

WHY DID MUDRYK JOIN CHELSEA OVER ARSENAL?

In the summer of 2022, the Arsenal made their interest in Mudryk known. He reportedly agreed to personal terms on deadline day, but the transfer never happened.

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They attempted to get him this winter but were beaten out at the last minute by Chelsea after failing with an offer at the beginning of the month.

Palkin continued by explaining why Chelsea’s final offer was “more serious” in terms of bonus structure than Arsenal’s. “Different time (schedule) of payments, different kinds of bonuses,” he explained.

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“Yes, we can talk about bonuses, but these bonuses should be somehow achievafble and realistic, let’s say. Therefore, in this case, Chelsea was much more serious and fair in some points.”

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Concerning Chelsea’s appealing project under Graham Potter, the Shakhtar chief added: “We realised that, yes, if you look right now, Chelsea have some kinds of problems but it is normal because they have a transition period from one owner to another. It is understandable.

“They would like to change a lot. So when they explain to you the whole story and you look for the next two, three, four, five years, then you see they have a serious project.

“I believe they will build one of the best clubs in the world because I am telling you, they are very serious in all directions: sports science, the stadium side, the commercial side, on all things. For us, they looked very ambitious.”

Palkin was also questioned over the existence of a Ballon d’Or clause in Mudry’s Chelsea contract. He responded: “Chelsea’s offer has no Ballon d’Or (clause). It is achievable bonuses that we feel, and they feel, can be reached. Maybe not this year but in the next two, three or four years.”

Palkin did affirm, however, that Shakhtar will be paid bonuses if Mudryk wins the Premier League or the Champions League while he is a player for west London. “Yes. These kinds of bonuses” he added.

When Chelsea returns to Premier League action next Saturday at Anfield against fellow top-four hopefuls Liverpool, Mudryk might make his Blues debut.

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