Chelsea’s Mike Penders Set for Strasbourg Loan Move

Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders will spend the 2025/26 season on loan at French club Strasbourg. The two clubs have agreed on the move. Chelsea value the 20-year-old highly and see the loan as an essential part of his development.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The paperwork is complete and should be signed soon. Penders joined Chelsea from Belgium in August 2024. He will now play for Ligue 1 team Strasbourg. Both clubs think this loan will give him essential first-team experience. Chelsea’s goalkeeping spots are competitive. Strasbourg want to use one of their valuable loan slots on Penders. They plan to give him regular matches in France’s top league.

WHY IS THIS MOVE IMPORTANT?

Chelsea just won their first FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, securing a notable victory against Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-0 scoreline according to reports. The club has big ambitions for the new Premier League season and is focused on bringing in young players, like Penders, who plays in a style similar to Thibaut Courtois. While Chelsea have fierce competition for the number one spot, senior figures at the club are confident regular minutes in France will fast-track Penders’ development and allow him to eventually compete for the position at Stamford Bridge.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR PENDERS, CHELSEA, AND STRASBOURG?

Penders will join up with a Strasbourg side looking to make progress in Ligue 1, having finished 7th in the previous season according to recent updates. They open up their 2025/26 league campaign against Metz, who comes from gaining promotion in Ligue 2 last season. Chelsea, meanwhile, can look forward to defending their Club World Cup crown and challenging the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal at the top end of the Premier League, beginning with an opener against Crystal Palace who won the FA Cup last season. For Penders, this move represents the best chance of making an impression in senior football and returning to London as a more well-rounded prospect.