Chelsea bet on Maik Bindels to be Courtois' successor

Young Belgian goalkeeper Maik Beenders is emerging as one of the most promising talents in the goalkeeper position at Chelsea, having caught the attention with his abilities and potential that have led those close to Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to compare him to the current star of Real Madrid.

Chelsea have signed Benders from KRC Genk for £17 million in 2024, before officially joining the team the following summer. He will then spend a season on loan at Strasbourg. The financial aspect of the deal surprised Gilbert Rox, the goalkeeper coach at Genk at the time, especially since the player had not yet featured for the first team of the Belgian club.

Rooks explained that Chelsea scouts have been monitoring Benders during his youth team appearances, confirming that the goalkeeper possesses great potential that could make his value much higher in the future, similar to Courtois, who moved from KRC Genk to Chelsea at a young age before becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Robert Sánchez is competing for the starting goalkeeper position.

Chelsea plan to keep Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sánchez as their first-choice option during this phase, while giving Benders a chance to compete for the starting position. This comes as the club looks to compensate for the potential departure of Filip Jørgensen and seeks an additional option to strengthen this position.

Benders played 26 matches with KRC Genk in his final season before moving to Strasbourg, where he participated in most of the team's matches during a tough season that included 52 matches. During this time, the French club reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa Conference League.

The Belgian goalkeeper has stood out due to his ability to participate in building play from the back, as former Strasbourg coach Liam Roseigneur relied on an advanced tactical style that required his goalkeeper to constantly move outside the penalty area and contribute to passing the ball and starting attacks, although this approach sometimes led to notable mistakes.

Rocks has the potential to reach Courtois' level.

Rox revealed that playing with both feet was a clear weakness for Binders when he joined KRC Genk's academy at the age of thirteen, but he developed exceptionally well thanks to his hard work and strong character. He noted that he had never seen a player improve so quickly between the ages of thirteen and eighteen.

Rox said: "At first, he faced significant difficulties, but he worked hard. We dedicated at least 20 minutes to training on using the feet in every goalkeeper training session."

He added that Benders has a good ability to read the game and make the right decisions, which are essential factors for a goalkeeper who participates in building attacks from the back. It is not just about technical skill, but also about understanding spaces, pressure, and timing.

Rox has pointed out that Bindels resembles Courtois in many aspects, explaining that both are the same height, around two meters, and that the young goalkeeper possesses great calmness both on and off the pitch.

He concluded his remarks by saying: "We have produced many outstanding goalkeepers, but Mike is the player who has the potential to reach Thibaut's level himself, and his calmness is a golden asset for a goalkeeper."

Benders was part of the group of goalkeepers for Belgium during preparations for the World Cup, where he trained alongside Thibaut Courtois, who expressed admiration for the young goalkeeper's abilities and personality, indicating growing confidence in his future potential.