'Arsenal offered same as Chelsea' - How Mudryk deal was hijacked

Karan Tejwani

• 17 Jan 2023 03:25 CST
• 3 min read

Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin has revealed why Mykhailo Mudryk joined Chelsea this week despite plenty of interest from Arsenal.

Mudryk was of interest to Arsenal for several months and was close to moving there before Chelsea swooped in and took him from under the Gunners’ noses.

The total fee will amount to €100 million including bonuses in one of the biggest transfers in Premier League history as Murdryk was presented to the Chelsea faithful on Sunday.

READ: Shakhtar donate £20.5m to Ukraine soldiers following Mudryk transfer

Now, Palkin has revealed why Mudryk ended up moving to Chelsea over Arsenal and explained it was to do with the structure of payments.

Shakhtar reveal reason for Chelsea decision

Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “The offer was the same. It was the same figure: the fixed part, the variable part and the bonuses were the same. But if you look inside the fixed part and the bonuses, it was completely different.

“Different time of payments, different kind of bonuses. You can talk about bonuses but these bonuses should somehow be achievable and realistic.

READ: The forgotten Chelsea star who could fall victim to Mudryk

“Therefore, in this case, Chelsea was much more serious and concrete and fair in some points. When we met Chelsea, we stayed together for nine or ten hours.

“They invited the player, explained the whole project. We realized, yes, Chelsea has some problems, but they are in a transition period from one owner to another and it’s understandable. They would like to change a lot.

“When they explained the whole story for the next two, three, four, five years, you realise they have a serious project and I believe they will be one of the best clubs in the world.”

Chelsea’s signing of Mudryk has taken the Blues’ spending under Todd Boehly to over €400 million as they spent big on talents such as Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and more, hoping to build a strong, long-term squad.