Player has signed contract with Chelsea – Deal done, not heading to Stamford Bridge yet

Chelsea have finalised a deal for KRC Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders, with the player now signing his deal with the Blues.

That’s according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who reports that Penders has signed a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge and will be loaned back to Genk this season.

Chelsea have been pushing for a deal with Genk for Penders over the last few weeks, continuing their push to sign young players from around the world.

It had been explained that they were targeting Penders, despite having a growing list of goalkeepers already on their books, and the plan was to leave him with Genk before he joined up at a later date.

Tavolieri now reports that an agreement has been struck on a €20m deal that will see Genk keeping a sell-on clause for the future.

He adds that Penders has signed a long-term deal with Chelsea and, as expected, will join Genk on loan until the end of the season.

That deal will make him the most expensive Belgian goalkeeper of all time, an interesting status for a player who is yet to even fully establish himself at Genk.