Mike Penders
 | The subject of this article is in the news regarding a reported transfer. Information regarding the transfer may be based on anonymous sources or awaiting an official announcement. Breaking news reports may be unreliable. |
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mike Louis Penders[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 31 July 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Maasmechelen, Belgium | ||
| Height | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chelsea | ||
| Number | 39 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2016 | Boorsem Sport | ||
| 2016–2018 | Bregel Sport | ||
| 2018–2022 | Genk | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Jong Genk | 39 | (0) |
| 2022–2025 | Genk | 21 | (0) |
| 2025– | Chelsea | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021 | Belgium U17 | 2 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Belgium U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Belgium U19 | 7 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:00, 29 July 2024 (UTC) | |||
Mike Louis Penders (born 31 July 2005) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Chelsea.
Club career
[edit]Genk
[edit]Penders is a youth product of Boorsem Sport and Bregel Sport, before moving to the academy of Genk in 2018.[3]
On 30 April 2021, he signed his first contract with Genk.[4] On 25 May 2022, he extended his contract until 2025.[5]
In the 2022–23 season, he was promoted to their reserve team Jong Genk.[2] He made his debut in a 4–1 victory against Lierse.[6][7]
On 23 August 2023, he again extended his contract until 2028.[8] He was made captain of Jong Genk in the 2023–24 season[7]
Following the departure of Maarten Vandevoordt and injury to Hendrik Van Crombrugge, Penders made his senior debut with the Genk first team in a 0–0 Belgian Pro League tie with Standard Liège on 28 July 2024.[9] At 18 years and 363 days, he was the third youngest goalkeeper to debut in the history of the league.[10]
Chelsea
[edit]On 27 August 2024, it was announced that Penders would join Premier League club Chelsea in the summer of 2025.[7][11]
International career
[edit]Penders is a youth international for Belgium. In 2023 he was called up to the Belgium U19s where he acted as captain.[12]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 25 May 2025[13]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Jong Genk | 2021–22 | Challenger Pro League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23 | Challenger Pro League | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||||
| 2023–24 | Challenger Pro League | 25 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 0 | |||||
| 2024–25 | Challenger Pro League | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 39 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 0 | ||||||
| Genk | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 25 | 0 | |||
| Chelsea | 2024–25 | Premier League | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2025–26 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 60 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 0 | ||
- ^ Includes Belgian Cup, FA Cup
- ^ Includes EFL Cup
Honours
[edit]Chelsea
References
[edit]- ^ "Squad List: FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Chelsea FC (ENG)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 June 2025. p. 12. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Wie is Mike Penders, de 18-jarige talentvolle doelman van KRC Genk die titularis is in 1B?". Voetbalflitsen.be - het leukste en opvallendste voetbalnieuws!. 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Mike Penders verlengt contract tot 2028". KRC Genk (in Flemish). 26 August 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "KRC Genk legt drie jonge talenten vast tot 2024". HBVL (in Flemish). 30 April 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "KRC Genk verlengt contract van jonge doelman Mike Penders (16)". HBVL (in Flemish). 25 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Met lef én een killer instinct: Jong Genk wint eerste profmatch met 4-1 van Lierse Kempenzonen". HBVL (in Flemish). 14 August 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Official: Mike Penders makes top transfer to Chelsea FC". 27 August 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "KRC Genk verlengt contract van doelman Mike Penders tot 2028 (Jupiler Pro League) | Het Belang van Limburg".
- ^ "Penders (18) onder de lat bij Genk: Courtois is hier eveneens jong begonnen". VoetbalPrimeur.be (in Flemish). 26 July 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ Geukens, Marnik (29 July 2024). "Chelsea zet zijn zinnen op 18-jarige Belgische doelman Mike Penders (KRC Genk)". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Mike Penders to join Chelsea". Chelsea F.C. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Mike Penders en Josue Kongolo (KRC Genk) naar eliteronde EK 2024 | Het Belang van Limburg".
- ^ Mike Penders at Soccerway
- ^ Begley, Emlyn (13 July 2025). "Chelsea 3–0 PSG". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
External links
[edit]- 2005 births
- Living people
- People from Maasmechelen
- Belgian men's footballers
- Men's association football goalkeepers
- KRC Genk players
- Chelsea F.C. players
- Belgian Pro League players
- Challenger Pro League players
- Belgium men's youth international footballers
- Belgian expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- Belgian expatriate sportspeople in England
- 21st-century Belgian sportsmen