Chelsea Cite Reasons for Stripping Mudryk of Number 10 Jersey

Ukraine international and Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has today been stripped of the No. 10 shirt at Chelsea, which has now been assigned to teammate Cole Palmer.

The No. 10 shirt at Chelsea is an epic jersey, having been previously held by legendary players like Mark Hughes, Joe Cole, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Willian, Christian Pulisic and many more.

In a club statement on June 5, 2025, Chelsea confirmed that Cole Palmer, their standout performer, will take the No. 10 shirt ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, starting from the FIFA Club World Cup in June 2025.

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Mudryk has been provisionally suspended since December 2024 after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium during a routine test while on international duty with Ukraine.

He hasn’t played since November 28, 2024, when he scored in a 2-0 Conference League win over Heidenheim. The outcome of his second sample (B sample) remains unclear, and a potential ban of up to four years looms if found guilty.

The move to strip Mudryk of such an important jersey hints that Mudryk’s future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain, especially given his suspension and the lack of clarity on his return.

His new squad number, if he remains at the club, has not been announced, with Chelsea noting that the full list of squad numbers for 2025-26 will be finalised after the summer transfer window.

Further worries about Mudryk’s case are brought about by his inconsistent performances before the suspension, and Chelsea might have chosen to move on from the £89m winger they bought from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.

England international Cole Palmer has earned the number through exceptional form since joining from Manchester City in 2023, making the switch a logical one for the club.

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Palmer is the key creative cog in Chelsea’s attacking machine, registering 37 goals and 22 assists across the last two seasons. It makes sense that he would fill the fabled No.10 spot in the Blues’ ranks.

Chelsea had a successful 2024-25 season under head coach Enzo Maresca, who joined from Leicester City on July 1, 2024.

In the Premier League, they finished fourth with 20 wins, 9 draws, and 9 losses across 38 matches, scoring 64 goals and conceding 43, securing a spot in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.

They also triumphed in the UEFA Conference League, defeating Real Betis 4-1 in the final on May 28, 2025, marking their first trophy in over three years and making them the first club to win all five major European competitions.

Internationally, they’re set to contest the expanded FIFA Club World Cup starting in June 2025.

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