Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders will join Chelsea from Genk next year in a deal worth a reported 20 million euros ($22 million, £17 million), the Blues announced on Tuesday.
“Penders, a Belgium Under-19 international, will join Chelsea from next summer after agreeing a contract with the club until 2032,” Chelsea said in a statement.
The 19-year-old will remain with Genk for the rest of the season.
He joins a long list of ‘keepers on the books of the English club.
Chelsea already have seven senior goalkeepers under contract.
The club’s policy of snapping up young talent from around the globe in the two years since a takeover fronted by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly has been questioned.
Chelsea have over 50 players on their books with many big names not even training with Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad.
Raheem Sterling, Romelu Lukaku and Ben Chilwell, who cost the club over £200 million in transfer fees, are among those who have been frozen out and told to find moves before the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea have won two of their first three games under Maresca after losing their season opener 2-0 to Premier League champions Manchester City.
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 week agoUruguay end winless run with dramatic late win over Colombia
Manuel Ugarte grabbed a dramatic last-gasp winner as Uruguay ended a five-match winless streak...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 weeks agoArgentina fall in Paraguay, Brazil held in Venezuela
World champions Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat to Paraguay while rivals Brazil were held...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 month agoLenovo become FIFA’s World Cup ‘technology partner’
Chinese technology company Lenovo have signed a sponsorship deal with FIFA that covers the...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 3 months agoVinicius says Spain should lose 2030 World Cup unless racism declines
Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior has called for Spain to be stripped of its 2030...
By AFP