Chelsea have formally announced the signing of Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders.
With just four days of the summer transfer window remaining, the Blues hierarchy are attempting to finalise their squad for the first half of the 2024-25 campaign.
Outgoings are expected to be a common theme with at least a dozen players training away from Enzo Maresca's senior crop ahead of potentially completing transfers away from Stamford Bridge.
With Victor Osimhen still being heavily linked with a move from Napoli, at least one high-profile incoming could occur, too, yet Chelsea's co-owners have still been prepared to allocate a substantial sum of money to secure the signature of yet another wonderkid.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Mike Penders from KRC Genk, with the goalkeeper to officially join from next summer. ✍️🇧🇪
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 27, 2024
Penders signs on dotted line
Despite already possessing a wide array of goalkeepers on their books, Chelsea have opted to sign Penders on a contract until 2032.
Although a fee has not been disclosed, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says that the Premier League giants are spending €20m (£16.89m) on the 19-year-old.
That is despite the Belgium Under-19 international making just two senior appearances, the first leading to a clean sheet against Standard Liege in the first game of this season.
However, Penders would ship three goals in a 3-1 defeat to Leuven and has since been left out after the return of the experienced Hendrik Van Crombrugge.
Rather than immediately making the move to West London, Penders will remain at Genk for the rest of the season before completing a transfer in 2025.
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Decisions to be made on goalkeeping ranks
Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen may be the stand out top two in the pecking order, yet Chelsea goalkeeping ranks are becoming vastly populated.
Even with the situation of Djordje Petrovic likely to be resolved through a sale or loan, Chelsea still have several other stoppers on their books.
Marcus Bettinelli is the designated third choice, while United States international Gabriel Slonina is on loan at Barnsley with the view of challenging for a place in the squad upon his return.
Eddie Beach and Teddy Sharman-Lowe are also at fellow EFL clubs in Crawley Town and Doncaster Rovers, while a decision must be reached on the future of Lucas Bergstrom after the Finland international was involved on the pre-season tour of the USA.
Darren Plant
