Chelsea Transfers

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What Mamadou Sarr will bring to Chelsea and why Liam Rosenior might have wanted him back

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7015638/2026/02/03/mamadou-sarr-Chelsea-analysis-liam-rosenior/

Speaking to British journalists in impressively fluent English during last summer’s Club World Cup, Mamadou Sarr was asked about then-Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior’s public insistence that he has “world-class” potential.

“When I was a kid, I had a dream,” he replied. “It was to be the best centre-back in the world. I trust him (Rosenior), and I trust me.”

It was a response that revealed so much about Sarr, and also sheds light on why Rosenior is so keen to have the 20-year-old at his disposal for the rest of this season at Stamford Bridge. The defender’s loan spell at Strasbourg was cancelled on Monday, with Sarr coming back to west London.

Sarr joined Chelsea permanently last summer and was part of the squad for the Club World Cup on the back of a 2024-25 season in which he had established himself as a key contributor for Rosenior, making 27 starts in Ligue 1. His experience in the United States was positive for his development — and his medal collection — but it was clear that Enzo Maresca did not deem him ready for a big role; he played just eight minutes from the substitutes’ bench in a comfortable 3-0 group-stage win over ES Tunis.

Returning to Strasbourg and Rosenior last summer was the logical choice, and it gave Sarr six months more seasoning as a regular starter in Ligue 1. But circumstances at Chelsea have now shifted considerably; Rosenior has replaced Maresca, and Levi Colwill, the left-sided centre-back who was principally blocking the Senegal international’s path to the starting XI, remains a long-term absentee as he recovers from an ACL injury.

Benoit Badiashile has not managed to seize what appeared to be his best opportunity to establish himself in the heart of Chelsea’s defence in Colwill’s absence. Rosenior could be seen talking to him several times about his passing out from the back in the first half against West Ham on Saturday. The Frenchman was then substituted at the break.

Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah are currently Rosenior’s favoured centre-back pairing, but neither man is particularly confident with his left foot. While technically also right-footed, Sarr is very comfortable using his left, and that matters because of the additional angles it opens up when Chelsea are attempting to play out of defence, through and around opposition pressure.

During his breakthrough campaign for Strasbourg in 2024-25, Sarr marked himself out as being capable of breaking the opposition lines with passes punched through the middle of the pitch, as well as less risky balls down the left side…

It was a similar story for Sarr in the first half of this Ligue 1 season, with a slight shift towards more passes angled out towards the left touchline…

Sarr is also comfortable defending high up the pitch with space behind him, which should make him a good fit for Rosenior’s aggressive man-to-man approach out of possession…

During their time together at Strasbourg, Rosenior encouraged Sarr to be more vocal on the pitch. It is something Sarr has also prioritised in his choice of role models.

“I want to be like Virgil van Dijk,” Sarr said last summer. “He’s a leader. For a defender, it’s very important to be a leader. I love Van Dijk, but some people tell me I play like Ibrahima Konate. It’s very similar.”

Chelsea’s desire for a centre-back with this particular blend of qualities was underlined by their exploration of signing Van Dijk as a free agent last summer, before he re-committed to Liverpool. It also manifested in their January pursuit of Rennes starlet Jeremy Jacquet, who ultimately decided on a move to Anfield instead.

There is a world in which recalling Sarr proves to be a better football decision than paying the market rate for Jacquet, as well as being the cheaper option. For starters, he is available to help Chelsea immediately, rather than being acquired as a marquee summer signing six months ahead of time.

Sarr also knows exactly what he is walking into at Cobham. He spent a very productive summer with this Chelsea squad and is particularly familiar with Malo Gusto — a former team-mate at Lyon — and Andrey Santos, who captained his Strasbourg team. Premier League football will be a big step up, but there will be no surprises in what Rosenior wants from him on the pitch.

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Competition for minutes in Chelsea’s defence in the second half of the season will be fierce, even if Colwill does not return.

Fofana and Chalobah have developed a productive chemistry through regular starts, while Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo are seasoned professionals who will expect to be involved when fit. Then there is Josh Acheampong, nine months younger than Sarr, whose lack of opportunities in recent weeks has become a source of growing angst for some in the fanbase.

But if the increased prominence of Santos since Rosenior’s arrival is anything to go by, it would not be hugely shocking if Sarr ends up being much more than squad ballast at Chelsea.

By Liam Twomey and Anantaajith Raghuraman