Mike Penders

Belgian footballer

Mike Penders
Personal information
Full name	Mike Louis Penders
Date of birth	(2005-07-31) 31 July 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	Maasmechelen, Belgium
Height	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)^[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Genk
Number	39
Youth career
2010–2016	Boorsem Sport
2016–2018	Bregel Sport
2018–2022	Genk
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	Jong Genk	35	(0)
2022–	Genk	2	(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 13:15, 9 August 2024 (UTC) ‡ 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 Genk. He will join Premier League club Chelsea in July 2025.

Club career

Genk

Penders is a youth product of Boorsem Sport and Bregel Sport, before moving to the academy of Genk in 2018. On 30 April 2021, he signed his first contract with Genk. On 25 May 2022, he extended his contract until 2025.^[2] In 2022, he was promoted to their reserve team Jong Genk where he became captain.^[1] On 23 August 2023, he again extended his contract until 2028.^[3] He made his senior debut with the Genk first team in a 0–0 Belgian Pro League tie with Standard Liège on 28 July 2024.^[4] At 18 years and 363, he was the third youngest goalkeeper to debut in the history of the league.^[5]

Chelsea

On 27 August 2024, it was announced that Penders would join Premier League club Chelsea in the summer of 2025.^[6]

International career

Penders is a youth international for Belgium. In 2023 he was called up to the Belgium U19s where he acted as captain.^[7]

References

^ ^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.
^ "Officiel : Le KRC Genk prolonge une jeune pépite". Walfoot.be. 25 May 2022.
^ "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.
^ "Chelsea zet zijn zinnen op 18-jarige Belgische doelman Mike Penders (KRC Genk) | Het Nieuwsblad".
^ "Penders to join Chelsea". chelseafc.com. 27 August 2024.
^ "Mike Penders en Josue Kongolo (KRC Genk) naar eliteronde EK 2024 | Het Belang van Limburg".