Mike Penders

Last updated

Mike Penders
Personal information
Full name Mike Louis Penders [1]
Date of birth (2005-07-31) 31 July 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth Maasmechelen, Belgium
Height 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) [2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Strasbourg
(on loan from Chelsea)
Number 39
Youth career
2010–2016 Boorsem Sport
2016–2018 Bregel Sport
2018–2022 Genk
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2024 Jong Genk 39 (0)
2022–2025 Genk 21 (0)
2025– Chelsea 0 (0)
2025–Strasbourg (loan) 1 (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 as of 17 August 2025
‡ National team caps and goals 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 Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, on loan from Premier League club Chelsea.

Contents

Club career

Genk

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

On 27 August 2024, it was announced that Penders would join Premier League club Chelsea in the summer of 2025. [7] [11]

On 28 July 2025, Penders joined Ligue 1 club Strasbourg on a season-long loan deal. [12]

International career

Penders is a youth international for Belgium. In 2023 he was called up to the Belgium U19s where he acted as captain. [13]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 August 2025 [14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong Genk 2021–22 Challenger Pro League 0000
2022–23 Challenger Pro League9090
2023–24 Challenger Pro League250250
2024–25 Challenger Pro League5050
Total390390
Genk 2024–25 Belgian Pro League 21040250
Chelsea 2024–25 Premier League 0000
2025–26 Premier League0000000000
Total000000000000
Strasbourg (loan) 2025–26 Ligue 1 10001 [c] 020
Career total61040001000660

Honours

Chelsea

References

  1. "Squad List: FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Chelsea FC (ENG)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 June 2025. p. 12. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 "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.
  3. "Mike Penders verlengt contract tot 2028". KRC Genk (in Flemish). 26 August 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  4. "KRC Genk legt drie jonge talenten vast tot 2024". HBVL (in Flemish). 30 April 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  5. "KRC Genk verlengt contract van jonge doelman Mike Penders (16)". HBVL (in Flemish). 25 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  6. "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.
  7. 1 2 3 "Official: Mike Penders makes top transfer to Chelsea FC". 27 August 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  8. "KRC Genk verlengt contract van doelman Mike Penders tot 2028 (Jupiler Pro League) | Het Belang van Limburg".
  9. "Penders (18) onder de lat bij Genk: Courtois is hier eveneens jong begonnen". VoetbalPrimeur.be (in Flemish). 26 July 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  10. 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.
  11. "Mike Penders to join Chelsea". Chelsea F.C. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  12. "Mike Penders joins Strasbourg on loan". www.chelseafc.com. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  13. "Mike Penders en Josue Kongolo (KRC Genk) naar eliteronde EK 2024 | Het Belang van Limburg".
  14. Mike Penders at Soccerway
  15. Begley, Emlyn (13 July 2025). "Chelsea 3–0 PSG". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2025.