Chelsea are continuing their preparations for the 2026/27 season in Australia as Xabi Alonso shapes his squad.
11:54, 28 Jul 2026Updated 11:56, 28 Jul 2026
Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has returned to the UK amid transfer speculation over his future. The 24-year-old is keen for more regular game time, having spent the last two seasons as back-up to Robert Sanchez at Stamford Bridge.
Earlier this summer, football.london reported that Jorgensen has informed Chelsea that he wishes to leave the club after a face-to-face meeting to discuss his future. The Blues are set to welcome Mike Penders back into the squad after the 20-year-old impressed on loan with Strasbourg last season.
Jorgensen has been part of the Chelsea squad for pre-season training, and he flew over to Australia with the rest of the squad for the pre-season tour. However, he was absent from the squad for the friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers, and football.london understands that the Dane has flown back to the UK as he considers a number of options over his next move.
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Strasbourg are in talks for Jorgensen, but no deal has been done yet. If a transfer is completed, It will be the latest of several transfers between the two clubs owned by BlueCo.
Jorgensen has been with Chelsea since completing a £20 million move from Villarreal in 2024. In that time he has made 36 appearances for the club, with most of those coming in the UEFA Conference League.
The lack of European football at Stamford Bridge next season means that opportunities for game time for goalkeepers are likely to be reduced. Jorgensen will therefore look to move on in search of more opportunities.
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is expected to turn to Panders as his replacement. The Belgian moved to Stamford Bridge as a youngster in 2024, and has spent time on loan with former club Genk as well as Strasbourg.
Last season saw him make 52 appearances in all competitions in France. He was called up to the Belgium sqaud for this summer's World Cup.
Penders has since returned to Chelsea and will be given a chance to catch the eye in pre-season as he competes with Sanchez to become first choice in the upcoming season. It's not the first time that the youngster has been in and around the first team, with him part of the squad for the Club World Cup last summer.
In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws after the tournament, Penders said: "It was good to tag along and get to know the group. You get a sense of the high level of training during those five weeks.
"All the guys were pretty friendly, too. How do you approach that? You come in, shake everyone’s hand. I’m the kind of person who immediately starts talking.
"Ultimately, you realise they’re all just great guys. Every dressing room is a bit similar, you know. You have a group of Spanish speakers, a group of English people. You end up playing cards together."
Earlier this summer, Penders was valued at €47.3 million (£41m) by the CIES Football Observatory. It makes him the most valuable young goalkeeper in the World.
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