Mike Penders Seals Loan Move from Chelsea to RC Strasbourg

Chelsea’s young goalkeeper Mike Penders is set to join RC Strasbourg on loan for the 2025/26 season, with all formal steps for the transfer now completed. According to a report, Mike Penders will join Strasbourg to gain essential first-team experience.

PENDERS’ NEXT STEP CONFIRMED

Mike Penders, one of Chelsea’s most promising young goalkeepers, has finalized a temporary switch to RC Strasbourg for the coming campaign. Chelsea staff had long considered a loan move the best step for his development, and Strasbourg were quick to strike an agreement for the 20-year-old shot-stopper. Penders will aim to gain valuable first-team experience in Ligue 1, where Strasbourg want to build on last season’s mid-table finish. Reports indicate that Strasbourg finished 7th in Ligue 1 last season, which reflects their ambitions for this season.

CHELSEA’S BUSY SUMMER AND SQUAD OUTLOOK

Chelsea have had a confident summer, still riding high from their recent win of their first FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. While strengthening their project under the leadership of Todd Boehly, the Blues see Penders’ loan as ideal to prepare him for future Premier League action. With Penders moving on, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez remains the main options for Enzo Maresca, after Djordje Petrović was sold to Bournemouth. The club continues to be linked with further high-profile transfers, with another potential outgoing involving Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Páez also looming.

FIXTURES, TABLES, AND SEASON AHEAD

RC Strasbourg finished 7th in Ligue 1 last season, earning a spot in the Europa Conference League for the 2024-25 season. The club hopes that Penders’ arrival can help them push for a top-half finish. Their opening game in the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season is against Metz, who ended last year in the relegation battle but survived and are seen as a tough early test. For Chelsea, Premier League preparations continue as they look to close the gap to champions Liverpool, aiming for a stronger start in their upcoming opener against Crystal Palace. Attention will also be on how other Chelsea loanees, including the rumored move of Kendry Páez, fare in France over the next 12 months.