London: Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders will join Chelsea from Genk next year in a deal worth a reported 20 million euros ($22 million, £17 million), the Blues announced on Tuesday.
"Penders, a Belgium Under-19 international, will join Chelsea from next summer after agreeing a contract with the club until 2032," Chelsea said in a statement.
The 19-year-old will remain with Genk for the rest of the season.
He joins a long list of 'keepers on the books of the English club.
Chelsea already have seven senior goalkeepers under contract.
The club's policy of snapping up young talent from around the globe in the two years since a takeover fronted by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly has been questioned.
Chelsea have over 50 players on their books with many big names not even training with Enzo Maresca's first-team squad.
Raheem Sterling, Romelu Lukaku and Ben Chilwell, who cost the club over £200 million in transfer fees, are among those who have been frozen out and told to find moves before the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea have won two of their first three games under Maresca after losing their season opener 2-0 to Premier League champions Manchester City.
Arsenal signs Spain international Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad to strengthen midfield options
Arsenal signed Spain international Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad to strengthen its midfield options for its latest bid to win the Premier League title.
Merino has reportedly joined for a fee of 32 million pounds ($42 million) on what Arsenal said was a “long-term contract,” four days after Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil gave the player a public farewell.
Merino helped Spain win the recent European Championship. His goal late in extra time secured a 2-1 win over host nation Germany in the quarterfinals.
A well-rounded attacking midfielder, Merino has been a key player for Sociedad after joining the Basque club in 2018. He helped it win the 2020 Copa del Rey and reach the Champions League's round-of-16 last season.
Merino will provide competition for Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in the two central midfield positions at Arsenal under manager Mikel Arteta, who had a brief playing stint at Sociedad and is from San Sebastian — where the club is based in northern Spain.
Merino effectively replaces Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira, who has left Arsenal to join Porto.
Arsenal, which was last English champion in 2004, has finished as runner-up to Manchester City in the last two seasons in the Premier League. The team has started this season with two straight wins. AP
Published: 28 Aug 2024, 02:49 pm IST
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