Chelsea are on the verge of signing another goalkeeper, despite already listing seven among their senior squad.
The Blues are reported to have made a £17million agreement with Genk to land Mike Penders. The 19-year-old shotstopper is expected to sign a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge but remain in Belgium on loan for 2024/25.
The deal follows Chelsea signing Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal for £20.7m, on a seven-year contract. The Denmark under-21 international was quickly handed his debut as he started against Real Madrid after joining up with Enzo Maresca's squad on their pre-season tour of the United States.
The signing of Penders sees the Blues land their fourth goalkeeper within the last 12 months. Last summer Chelsea signed Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez as Edouard Mendy departed west London and Kepa Arrizabalaga moved on loan to the Bernabeu.
The west London side list Jorgensen, Sanchez, Petrovic and Kepa among their senior goalkeepers. That group also includes Marcus Bettinelli, Lucas Bergstrom and Eddie Beach.
While the latter is shortly expected to move on loan, the Blues will soon welcome Gabriel Slonina back to Cobham. The American shotstopper has been with the US squad competing in the Paris Olympics after spending last term on loan at Eupen.
The sheer volume of goalkeepers at the club, and Chelsea's willingness to continue to return to the position left William Gallas speechless. The Frenchman was exasperated by the club's business after the signing of Jorgensen was announced.
"I’m speechless," Gallas told Genting Casino. "What can I say about Chelsea signing another goalkeeper, why are they doing it? What for? Why do they think they need another goalkeeper?"
"The players are too young and it’s a huge problem, but the problem isn’t down to the players, the problem is whoever is bringing them in," he added.
"It’s the owner who is putting his hand into his pocket but others are giving him the information, they’ve spent too much on the wrong players and now they are looking at goalkeepers. It’s a huge mess at Chelsea, a huge mess."
Penders has played 34 times for Jong Genk and made his senior debut for the club at the beginning of the Jupiler Pro League season. The teenager has started both of Genk's opening two matches thus far in 2024/25 and became the third youngest goalkeeper in the history of the division.