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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dom Smith

Mike Penders to become Chelsea's eighth first-team goalkeeper but teenager set for loan back to Genk

Chelsea have signed an eighth first-team goalkeeper, with teenager Mike Penders joining from Genk.

The 19-year-old has impressed for the Belgian club's youth teams and has captained Belgium at Under-19 level.

Penders is set to join the Blues for around £17million on a deal running until 2032, but will be loaned back to Genk for the upcoming season. He would then return to Stamford Bridge next summer.

The Blues already have seven goalkeepers in their first-team squad, with another three having already been loaned out to lower-league clubs.

Penders is their second signing of the summer in the position, following the £20.7m arrival of Denmark's Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.

Jorgensen made his first start for Chelsea in the 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid which concluded their pre-season tour of the United States on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, their 20-year-old keeper Eddie Beach is poised to join League One side Crawley Town on loan for the season.

On Thursday, Chelsea confirmed the signing of teenage centre-back Aaron Anselmino on a £15.6million deal.

The 19-year-old penned a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge but will remain on loan at his Argentine club, Club Atletico, for the the upcoming campaign and potentially longer.

The Blues host Italian champions Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge in their final pre-season friendly tomorrow, before welcoming Manchester City to west London the following Sunday for their Premier League opener.

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