August 27, (THEWILL) – Chelsea have announced the signing of 19-year-old Belgian goalkeeper, Mike Penders, from Genk for a reported £17 million. The deal will see Penders join the London club in the summer of 2025, with the young keeper agreeing to a contract until 2032.
Penders, who currently plays for Belgium’s Under-19 national team, will remain with Genk for the remainder of the 2024/2025 season before making the move to Stamford Bridge. This addition further expands Chelsea’s already extensive roster of goalkeepers, bringing the total number of senior keepers at the club to eight.
The signing comes amid questions about Chelsea’s recruitment strategy under the ownership of Todd Boehly. The club has amassed over 50 players, with several high-profile names not included in manager Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans. Notable players such as Raheem Sterling, Romelu Lukaku, and Ben Chilwell, who cost the club more than £200 million in transfer fees, have been told to seek moves before the transfer window closes.
Despite the large squad size, Chelsea have made a solid start to the season under Maresca. After an opening day loss to Manchester City, the Blues have won their next two matches, showing signs of improvement on the pitch with a 6-2 pummelling of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The acquisition of Penders represents Chelsea’s continued focus on young talent, with the club hoping the Belgian keeper will develop into a key player in the future. However, it remains to be seen how the club will manage its large squad and integrate new signings like Penders into the team structure.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
