Mike Penders, the young goalkeeper wey Chelsea carry, na im name dey trend for Nigeria X, and trends24.in put the topic for number 19 for the trend list. Na him be the subject of several newspaper reports this week, from Chelsea own website to BBC, The Sun, Daily Mail and Punch Newspapers.
Chelsea official website report say Penders break one Chelsea record wey don stand for 21 years after him Premier League debut, and the club publish the story on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
BBC join the conversation with one question wey plenty fans dey ask: who be Martinez replacement Penders? The report come as Chelsea dey find cover for Emiliano Martinez. Daily Mail report say Martinez dey out after surgery on one fractured jaw, and na that gap Penders dey fill.
Daily Mail dig enter him story well well. The report talk say Penders ask Chelsea for the number 39 shirt, and e get reason: na nod to 1939, the year wey him grandfather and biggest supporter, Nico Smeets, born. Smeets dey get special access to watch him grandson train with Genk and other clubs of him youth career for Belgium, and the paper talk say the man no miss more than ten sessions in 15 years. Dem even get secret signal: if Smeets put him hands flat on the fence, e mean say him no think say the young goalkeeper dey do well enough. If him pépé form fists, e mean say e dey do well and make e continue.
The same thing happen when Penders play for Genk first team. E debut for the Belgian Pro League side as an 18-year-old, and e go look the stands for Smeets, then see one lifted fist among the supporters, gesture wey dem use dey give am confidence before kick-off.
The Sun describe how the keeper rise from ‘clumsy’ teenager wey him boots no even fit am, to ‘complete’ Courtois-like star. Punch Newspapers also report say Xabi Alonso see Courtois qualities inside the young goalkeeper.
Daily Mail report say Tottenham Hotspur go visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and na that game Penders go start him first Premier League match. Liverpool and Manchester United follow after Tottenham. The paper describe am as 6ft 7in goalkeeper with unshakeable mentality, and talk say Chelsea supporters dey bank on the 21-year-old Belgian.
