Andrey Santos reacts to exciting Chelsea goalkeeper news - 'this is a dream come true'
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Credit: Imago
Jonathan Burnett
Wed 3 September 2025 9:51, UK
Chelsea look set to add a Belgium international to their goalkeeping ranks next season after Mike Penders secured a career “dream”.
Enzo Maresca‘s side ended another mammoth transfer window with no changes to their first-team goalkeeper options, as Chelsea kept faith with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen for the season ahead.
Chelsea spent over £300million on new signings this summer including £17m to secure Penders’ move from Genk, but Maresca elected to loan the Belgian to Strasbourg rather than keep him as competition.
Marcus Bettinelli, Lucas Bergstrom and Djordje Petrovic were all sold to Manchester City, Mallorca and Bournemouth respectively to further underline Maresca’s faith in Sanchez and Jorgensen, but Penders is set to return next summer.
Credit: Imago
Penders will be back in the fold at Stamford Bridge in 12 months’ time to shake up Chelsea’s goalkeeping ranks, and his spell at Strasbourg began in “perfect” style with two clean sheets in his first appearances.
Strasbourg sit sixth in Ligue 1 after three games with a squad boosted by Penders and four other players either loaned or sold to them by Chelsea, including Ben Chilwell after a bizarre deadline-day transfer.
The form of Chelsea’s sister club is already reaping long-term rewards though, after Penders was called up to the Belgium national side for the first time ahead of matches against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan.
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Penders posted on Instagram to celebrate Tuesday’s call-up with the message of; “Dreams come true”, and Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos responded with three ‘applause’ emojis after also spending last season on loan at Strasbourg.
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Football Insider Verdict
Chelsea have a history of loaning out their promising young goalkeeping signings until they’re ready for first-team action, with the best example being Thibaut Courtois‘ three-year spell at Atletico Madrid.
Courtois’ compatriot Penders will undoubtedly be hoping to follow in his footsteps for both Chelsea and Belgium, particularly given that Sanchez’s displays have already been subject to criticism this season.
With few Chelsea fans maintaining full confidence in either Sanchez or Jorgensen, Penders has an ideal opportunity to test his mettle at Strasbourg, and follow the likes of Santos into the first-team picture next season.