Penders has impressed on loan at sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1 and kept 12 clean sheets in all competitions.
The 20-year-old is now in line to return to Stamford Bridge, but instead of sending him on another loan, Xabi Alonso wants him in his first-team squad.
That is according to Sky reporter Sacha Tavolieri, who revealed that Penders will fight Robert Sanchez for the number one jersey in 2026/27, unless another shot stopper is signed.
Chelsea want to "gradually" integrate him into the squad and give him a proper role in the goalkeeping hierarchy, seeing the young Belgian as a main starter in the years to come.
Penders will rejoin the Blues after the Club World Cup, and then he will have time impress Alonso during pre-season and perhaps prove why he deserves to start.