Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign teenage goalkeeper Mike Penders from KRC Genk, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Blues will pay £17.1 million plus add-ons for the 19-year-old keeper, who agreed to sign a long-term contract with the west Londoners.
The deal will also include a sell-on clause if Chelsea decides to cash in on him in the future.
The Belgian sensation is highly rated as one of the finest young shot-stoppers in the Belgian top flight, and Chelsea want to add him to their ranks.
While the Blues will complete the move for the teenage keeper this summer, Penders will spend the 2024/25 season on loan at Genk before moving to west London next year.
Penders spent last season on loan at Genk’s youth team, keeping three clean sheets in 25 Belgium Challenger Pro League games. He has also captained the Belgian Under-19s.
He was moved up to the senior team for the 2024/25 Belgian top-flight campaign and has featured in Genk’s opening two fixtures, keeping one clean sheet.
While he will spend the season in Belgium, Penders will become the tenth keeper on Chelsea’s payroll when he signs his long-term contract.
The move for Penders comes despite Chelsea being overrun with goalkeepers in the squad.
The Blues recently signed Filip Jorgensen from La Liga outfit Villarreal. The Danish shot-stopper is expected to be the club’s designated keeper, displacing Robert Sanchez and Dorde Petrovic.
The latter is attracting interest from Chelsea’s sister club, RC Strasbourg, and Europa Conference League finalists Fiorentina.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has also returned to the Bridge following the end of his loan spell at Real Madrid.
Manager Enzo Maresca also has Marcus Bettinelli, Lucas Bergstrom, and Eddie Beach in his squad, while three more keepers, Luke Campbell, Ted Curd, and Teddy Sharman-Lowe, are out on loan.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
