Everything you need to know about Mamadou Sarr

Chelsea have completed the signing of talented defender Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg. Here we look to answer some of the key questions you might have...

How old is Mamadou Sarr?

Sarr was born on August 29 2005, meaning he is 19 at the time of signing for the club.

What position is Mamadou Sarr?

Sarr is a central defender. He has played games in defensive midfield during loan spells and in youth football but the majority of his professional career has been spent at centre-back.

What clubs has Mamadou Sarr played for?

Sarr started life at Etoile Sportive de Saint Laurent Blangy Feuchy in Arras, northern France, before soon joining nearby RC Lens.

The family decided to return to the south of France though and Sarr moved to Lyon aged 12, which proved to be the making of Sarr, according to his older brother Abdoulaye.

The defender flourished in the Lyon youth ranks and made his senior debut as a late substitute in the penultimate game of the 2022/23 season aged 17.

Two more senior appearances arrived in the first half of the following season before he was loaned out to recently-promoted Belgian Pro League side Molenbeek, making six starts and four substitute outings as the club suffered relegation.

His performances had attracted the interest of Strasbourg, though, and he joined the club last August, a week before his 19th birthday.

It proved to be an excellent signing as the teenager became a regular under Liam Rosenior and made 28 appearances for Strasbourg as the club secured a seventh-place finish and earned the chance to play European football next season.

Was Mamadou Sarr's father a footballer?

His father is Pape Sarr, a former midfielder who made more than 50 appearances for Senegal and was part of the squad which reached the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals and won the Africa Cup of Nations in the same year.

Sarr, who also had a two-day trial at Everton back in 2002, came through the ranks at Saint-Etienne before becoming a regular for the Ligue 1 side and lists RC Lens and Brest among his former sides.

Where is Mamadou Sarr from?

Mamadou Sarr was born in Martigues in the south of France, due to his father being on loan at nearby Istres.

But his early years were spent in the north of France, with his father playing for the likes of Brest, Paris FC and Noisy-le-Sec.

It was at the age of 12 that the family moved back to the south of France and Mamadou signed for Lyon.

What country does Mamadou Sarr play for?

Sarr has played for France's youth sides from Under-17 to Under-20 level.

He started four of the six games as France lifted the Under-17 Euros in 2022 and was part of the squad which finished runners-up at the Under-19 Euros a year later, featuring as a substitute in the final defeat to Spain.

His Under-20 debut duly arrived in September and he currently has two caps at that level.

How long is Mamadou Sarr's Chelsea contract?

Mamadou has signed a contract with Chelsea until 2033.

What has been said about Mamadou Sarr?

Former Premier League defender Rosenior, who is currently head coach at Strasbourg, was quoted earlier this season as saying: 'I could talk about him for hours. His nickname is Mamadou Rosenior, he's my son.

'It's scary to show such performances at 19 with such calm in the face of such strong teams. He just has to stay humble and calm and he will be a top player for sure.'

In an interview with The Athletic, Rosenior added: 'His temperament, his athleticism, his ability on the ball… he’s got everything you need to be a world-class centre-half.'

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