Chelsea signs young goalkeeper Mike Penders from Genk

Chelsea has announced that 19-year-old goalkeeper Mike Penders will join the club this summer. Penders has recently made his mark as Genk's first-choice goalkeeper after being promoted in January. Standing at nearly 6ft 7in, he draws comparisons to former Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois. Before this weekend's match against Arsenal, Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca hinted that Robert Sanchez will remain the team's primary goalkeeper for now. However, there are growing questions about the team's long-term goalkeeping situation. Penders is seen as a potential solution, but his limited experience in professional football—only 11 matches—raises concerns about his readiness for the Premier League. A goalkeeping expert reviewed Penders' skills and noted his strong play distribution and shot-stopping abilities. He has a powerful, accurate long pass, similar to Ederson but needs to improve under high-pressure situations. His command of the penalty area is impressive, often catching high balls instead of punching them away, which could benefit Chelsea's defense. While Penders shows great potential, he isn't at a level to immediately become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper. Experts suggest he may need time to develop further, possibly starting with a loan spell to gain more match experience. With the right training and game time, Penders could become one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the future.