The January transfer window has closed with Chelsea missing out on the signature of young French defender Jérémy Jacquet, who instead joined Liverpool.
In response, the Blues have recalled Mamadou Sarr from his loan spell at sister club Strasbourg.
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior is no stranger to the Senegalese defender, having worked closely with him in Ligue 1 for a season and a half before moving to West London.
With that familiarity in mind, what exactly can Chelsea supporters expect from their latest defensive addition?
Transfer News Blitz writer, Jacob Howson, is on hand to give you some analysis of what you can expect from the young defender.
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THE STRENGTHS
At just 20 years old, Sarr has emerged as one of the most exciting young centre-backs in France’s top flight.
His rise has been further accelerated by a breakthrough AFCON campaign, where he made three appearances and memorably stepped in for the injured Kalidou Koulibaly during the final.
Physically, Sarr immediately stands out. At 6’4”, he becomes one of the tallest centre-halves at Cobham, with only Tosin Adarabioyo surpassing him in height.
Beyond his frame, Sarr possesses long, powerful strides – comparable to defenders such as Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba – which allow him to cover ground efficiently and recover when isolated or pinned by attackers.
Chelsea’s recent 3-2 Premier League victory over West Ham highlighted an ongoing issue, with both goals conceded originating from wide areas.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jarrod Bowen repeatedly combined down West Ham’s left-hand side, exposing Chelsea during moments of transition.
Sarr, however, has shown at Strasbourg that he is comfortable defending in wide channels. His aggressive yet well-timed challenges make him effective when dragged away from central areas – an attribute that could prove vital in shoring up Chelsea’s transitional defence.
Another area of concern this season has been ball progression from the back, particularly in the absence of Levi Colwill. Sarr could serve as a capable stopgap in this regard.
He has recorded an impressive 2,013 metres of progressive carries in Ligue 1 this season, alongside a 95% pass completion rate, numbers that underline his composure and confidence in possession.
Defending the penalty area has also been problematic for Chelsea, with four of their last five goals conceded coming from crosses into the box.
Sarr’s awareness when facing his own goal and his ability to position himself effectively could help alleviate this weakness.
THE WEAKNESSES
That said, there are still areas for improvement. Despite his size, Sarr has won just 47.6% of his aerial duels in Ligue 1 this season.
This is an aspect of his game that will need refinement, particularly in the Premier League, where physicality, set-pieces, and long throw-ins play a significant role.
Experience is another factor. With only 46 senior appearances for Strasbourg, Sarr remains relatively raw and may require time to adapt to the pace and intensity of English football.
However, his existing relationship with Rosenior should ease that transition and provide a supportive environment for development.
With Josh Acheampong and Aaron Anselmino also on the books, Chelsea supporters need not dwell too heavily on missing out on Jacquet.
The Blues are well stocked for the future, boasting three highly rated 20-year-old centre-backs capable of growing together at the heart of Chelsea’s defence.
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