OFFICIAL: Chelsea complete signing of Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders

Cameron Smith

Updated: 27 Aug 2024 12:14 BST
3 min read

Chelsea have officially completed the signing of KRC Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders.

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The 19-year-old has signed a contract until 2032 at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea have paid a reported fee of €20 million to acquire his services.

Despite being announced as a new signing by the west London club, Penders will remain at Genk until the end of the 2024-25 season, before officially joining Chelsea next summer.

Penders made his senior debut for Genk during a 0-0 draw against Standard Liege in their opening league match of the 2024-25 campaign after appearing on the bench a handful of times last season.

In the process, Penders became the third-youngest goalkeeper in the Belgian Pro League’s history.

The Belgium U19 international has been frequently compared to former Blues shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois and he is rated as one of the best goalkeeping prospects in European football.

He joined Genk’s academy in 2018 and signed his first contract with the club three years later. Penders has seven caps for Belgium’s U19 side and he has captained the team in each of his last six appearances.

Chelsea reportedly view Penders as an elite talent and he will officially join the club next summer.

© IMAGO - Chelsea have signed Mike Penders from Genk

Mike Penders to Chelsea

Penders is the fifth goalkeeper to sign for Chelsea since Todd Boehly’s arrival in 2022, with Gabriel Slonina, Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic and Filip Jorgensen also joining the club over the past two years.

Slonina is yet to make his competitive debut for the Blues, Jorgensen joined from Villarreal this summer, and Sanchez and Petrovic shared number one duties during the 2023-24 campaign.

So far this summer, Chelsea have signed 10 new players as Todd Boehly continues to splash the cash in west London.

The Blues have added Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the aforementioned Jorgensen, Omari Kellyman, Aaron Anselmino, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo in a busy summer of transfer dealings.