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Chelsea Confidential: The untold stories that shaped ‘Magic’ Mike Penders, as Cobham insiders tip 6ft 7in goalkeeper with unshakeable mentality and secret signal to be ‘absolutely elite’ ahead of acid test against Spurs

KIERAN GILL: Ask those inside Chelsea and, after preaching patience, they will hail the 21-year-old Penders' potential as 'huge'. This is no ordinary understudy.

By KIERAN GILL · Daily Mail

Published: Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 1:00 AM

Key Things to Know

Mike Penders is set to make his first Premier League start for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur.
First-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is sidelined after undergoing surgery for a fractured jaw.
Chelsea signed Penders from Belgian club Genk on a pre-agreement worth £17 million.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders is set to make his first Premier League start against Tottenham Hotspur following a fractured jaw suffered by Emiliano Martinez. The 21-year-old Belgian, who made his league debut off the bench in a 2-0 win over Everton, is preparing for upcoming matches against Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester United under manager Xabi Alonso.

Signed from Genk for £17 million before spending last season on loan at Strasbourg, Penders is drawing internal comparisons to Thibaut Courtois. Chelsea's goalkeeping department, led by Ben Roberts, has focused heavily on preparing the 6ft 7in stopper for Tottenham's high volume of crosses and corners.

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