CHELSEA have signed goalkeeper Mike Penders in a permanent transfer from KRC Genk.
Penders, 19, will officially move to Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The goalkeeper – who made his senior debut just last month – has penned an eight-year deal with Chelsea, keeping him in West London until 2032.
But for now, he is set to spend the remainder of this season with Genk in the Belgian Pro League.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca currently has five goalkeepers available for selection, including Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic, Marcus Bettinelli and Lucas Bergstrom.
And fans are baffled as to why he keeps adding to his ranks.
One person took to X to comment: “Seriously, how many keepers do you actually need?”
Another wrote: “We can almost field a full team of goalkeepers. Perfectly normal stuff.”
While a third said: “HOW MANY KEEPERS DO A FOOTBALL CLUB NEED????”
As well as the five goalkeepers currently available, Chelsea have several out on loan.
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PREMIER LEAGUE legend Jamie Carragher let rip at Chelsea's transfer market activity, going on an epic rant about the west Londoners…
He told Sky Sports: “Chelsea have just got to stop buying players and players have got to stop signing for Chelsea.
“If I was a player and look at Chelsea, why would you sign?
“The only reason you’d sign is because someone might say – your agent might say – ‘We’re getting a seven-year deal’.
“You know what I’d say? ‘Back yourself as a player, sign a four-year deal at a proper club and back yourself to do well’.
“And then when you’re due for renewal your money goes up anyway.
“I don’t understand why you’d sign a seven-year deal. Back yourself.”
He continued: “All players need competition. But every team I played in there were seven or eight players who knew they were playing every week.
“Then you’ve got six or seven players who are fighting for three positions, and then you’ve got another six players who know they are squad players.”
And of the Blues’ swollen array of talent, Carragher asked: “Where are they going to fit in the changing room?
“How are you going to put on a training session.”
Eddie Beach, Luke Campbell, Ted Curd, Teddy Sharman-Lowe and Gabriel Slonina are not expected to return until next summer.
Out-of-favour Kepa Arrizabalaga is also on the verge of leaving.
Kepa has agreed to join Bournemouth on a season-long loan having just penned a new Chelsea deal.
The Spaniard travelled to Bournemouth this week and has already started his medical.
STAY in the know this summer with The Sun's transfer experts.
Chelsea’s bid to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is being held up by his extraordinary £500,000-a-week demands, SunSport can exclusively reveal.
Raheem Sterling is in talks with Aston Villa as he nears a Chelsea exit, according to reports.
Elsewhere, we have the very latest on Newcastle‘s pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.
Liverpool are reportedly closing in on the £29.9m signing of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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