Xabi Alonso will have an enormous squad to work with when Chelsea’s pre-season training begins, with Mike Penders one of many out-on-loan players due to return.
Chelsea already have a massive squad currently at Cobham. Calum McFarlane proved that when asked about Mamadou Sarr and Benoit Badiashile missing out on the FA Cup final squad against Man City.
What is ONE law you would change or introduce in football?👀
Stop the clock rather than additional time like in Rugby!
Marc Clattenburg on Marc Cucurella incident during Spurs vs Chelsea
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But come the summer, Chelsea will welcome back all of their loan players as well as the signings they have already made. Emmanuel Emegha, Geovany Quenda, teenage star Denner and Dastan Satpaev.
Valentin Barco is also expected to join, having waved goodbye to Strasbourg. It leaves Alonso with many decisions to make going into 2026-27, and one of them will be the return of goalkeeper Mike Penders.
What does Mike Penders think about a return to Chelsea?
In the summer of 2024, Chelsea completed a deal for Penders, eventually becoming a Chelsea player a year later. He immediately went on loan to Strasbourg, where the Belgian goalkeeper has impressed.
That loan is set to expire soon, and Penders will return to Chelsea. There have been differing reports on the future of Penders, with some suggesting Chelsea have shortlisted six potential signings in goal.
Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg
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Well, Sky Sports now claim Chelsea have decided to integrate Penders into the first team under Xabi Alonso. The report suggests that Penders will not be first choice initially, but could be over some time.
That might still mean Chelsea pursue a new goalkeeper signing, with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen unable to convince throughout 2025-26. Penders is said to be excited to link up with his parent club.
He believes he is ‘ready’ for this next step in his career, and both Penders and his entourage are confident he can make an impact at Chelsea under Alonso. He has a contract at Stamford Bridge until June 2032.
What does it mean for Sanchez and Jorgensen?
The report indicates that Penders knows that it might take some time before he can establish himself in the first team under Alonso. Chelsea qualifying for the Conference League might actually help Penders.
Does Jorgensen deserve to start over Sanchez?
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It would see him given the chance to play regularly for Chelsea and catch Alonso’s eye. But he is fully aware that he might not be first choice, so what does it mean for Chelsea’s current options in goal?
It might simply mean that Penders is going to come in as no.2, and Sanchez remains first choice. The Spaniard has improved since Liam Rosenior’s exit, while Jorgensen was linked with an exit in January.
But perhaps, more realistically, Alonso will want a new goalkeeper signed this summer. One to sit above Penders in the pecking order, which would free up Sanchez and Jorgensen to leave Stamford Bridge.
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