Chelsea have informed Racing Genk that 19-year-old goalkeeper Mike Penders will not be returning to the club on loan next season.
That’s [according to Het Laatste Nieuws](https://www.hln.be/voetbal/domper-voor-racing-genk-mike-penders-keert-niet-terug-op-uitleenbasis-19-jarige-doelman-blijft-bij-chelsea~ab735549/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F), who report that Penders is set to stay with Chelsea, at least through the summer.
They explain that it’s disappointment for the Belgian club, who had been hoping to keep Penders for another season. He’s spent this season on loan with the club after they sold him to Chelsea last summer.
Instead, Chelsea have informed them that Penders will be remaining with them. He’s currently a part of Enzo Maresca’s squad at the Club World Cup but is yet to feature.
He has made an impression during training, though, and that’s made Chelsea decide to keep hold of him for the time being. It doesn’t mean he’ll be staying next season, however.
The youngster is likely to only be third choice in the squad and Chelsea don’t want to loan him out in principle; they may make an exception for the likes of Strasbourg. They have become something of a breeding ground for Chelsea youngsters as they are owned by BlueCo also.
Genk, meanwhile, will be forced to look for a new goalkeeper, with Penders off of the list after Chelsea make their stance clear.