Mike Penders admits he was caught off guard when Chelsea secured his signature last summer, fending off PSG with a €20m (£16.7m) offer. While the deal was finalized in August 2024, Chelsea opted to let him develop further at Genk, where he has since risen to the club’s number one spot.
Penders, 19, initially played second fiddle to Hendrik Van Crombrugge but has cemented his place as Genk’s first-choice goalkeeper since the turn of the year.
His rapid progress aligns with Chelsea’s long-term vision, particularly given Robert Sanchez’s struggles and Filip Jorgensen’s slow integration under Enzo Maresca.
Speaking to Belgian outlet De Morgen, Penders expressed his disbelief at the move:
“I didn’t see it coming—Chelsea and PSG are not small clubs. PSG didn’t meet Genk’s asking price, but Chelsea had a clear plan for me, both financially and in terms of my career.”
Chelsea’s interest wasn’t sudden, as Penders revealed they had been monitoring him long before his first-team breakthrough:
“They didn’t sign me based on a few games. They had been tracking me all season at Jong Genk. It shows how vital the academy is and why young players should take those competitions seriously.”
Standing at an imposing 6 ft 7 in, Penders has already earned seven caps for Belgium’s U19 squad. He also made history last season, becoming the third-youngest goalkeeper ever to debut in the Belgian Pro League at just 18 years and 363 days old.
As he prepares for his Stamford Bridge switch at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Penders remains grounded, knowing his real test is yet to come.