Yahoo Sports Chelsea interested in signing Genk’s young goalkeeper after Pro League debut
Bob Faesen of HLN is reporting that Chelsea are looking to sign Mike Penders from Genk and loan him back to the Belgian side. The teenager started the first game of the season for Genk on Sunday afternoon, keeping a clean sheet against Standard Liege. Penders has replaced Maarten Vandevoordt, who left the club to join RB Leipzig this summer. The sides former number one had been sold to the Bundesliga side a few seasons ago but came back on loan to help his development. Penders current deal with Genk runs until 2028.
The 18-year-old Penders has been getting experience of men’s football with Jong Genk in the Belgian second tier for the past few seasons. He played 25 games for the second team last season, conceding 42 goals and keeping three clean sheets. He is just the latest in a long line of Genk goalkeepers who have come into the side as a teenager and attracted moves to bigger European clubs. Thibaut Courtois, Koen Casteels and most recently Vandevoordt all came through the Genk system before moving on to other European teams.
