How Rosenior’s ‘son’ Sarr Earned His Place at Chelsea After a Touching Afcon Journey

Sarr’s Rise at Chelsea

Mamadou Sarr, affectionately dubbed “my son” by Liam Rosenior during their time together at Strasbourg, is making a push for starting positions at Chelsea. The 20-year-old defender recently played a crucial role in helping Senegal secure victory at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in January. He was Chelsea’s solitary signing for that month after being called back from a loan in France.

Now that Rosenior has taken the helm at Stamford Bridge, Sarr is eyeing an opportunity to start against Arsenal in the Premier League this Sunday. He made a notable debut in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Hull City and debuted in the Premier League during the 1-1 draw with Burnley. Sarr came off the bench after Wesley Fofana received a red card, making him the eighth Chelsea player to be sent off this season.

With Fofana out of action, Rosenior has several options for the center-back position, including Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, and Josh Acheampong. However, Sarr is a tangible option to partner with Trevoh Chalobah, who has been a consistent presence in the lineup.

“I’m learning to identify players I can rely on when challenges arise,” Rosenior remarked after the Burnley match, hinting at Sarr’s potential for a first league start coming soon.

How Sarr Made His Move to Chelsea

Sarr’s journey to Chelsea began when he transferred from Lyon to Strasbourg in August 2024 for just below £9 million after an impressive loan period at Molenbeek. Unbeknownst to him, the ownership group BlueCo, which holds Chelsea, was behind this deal. Rosenior played a pivotal role in securing Sarr’s signing, outbidding Rennes for his talents.

At the time, Sarr’s prospects were not looking great as he had dropped to fifth in the center-back hierarchy at Lyon, despite previously captaining France at the under-17 level. His early career started at the local club Saint-Laurent-Blangy, and he later joined Lens’ academy, where his father Pape, a former Senegal international, had also played.

After relocating to Lyon, Sarr transitioned from a striker to midfielder and finally to center-back, a change that propelled his growth as a player. He idolized Paul Pogba growing up but later began to emulate the playing styles of Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and his compatriot Kalidou Koulibaly, both of whom remain his inspirations.

The transfer to Chelsea for £12 million last January fulfilled a childhood dream for Sarr, who had been an admirer of the Premier League while watching the club’s memorable Champions League victory in 2012 against Bayern Munich.

‘Emotional’ Afcon Playing a Role in Sarr’s Adaptation

Sarr’s transition to life in England has been aided by three primary factors. First, he had the opportunity to bond with his teammates during a month of preseason training in the United States, where Chelsea triumphed in the Club World Cup.

Secondly, Rosenior’s appointment has encouraged Sarr to enhance his gameplay, urging him to add more intensity and aggression to both his defensive and offensive tactics. Close associates reveal that Sarr explored loan opportunities with several Premier League and Champions League teams in the summer succeeding the Club World Cup, but Rosenior’s influence led him to return to France as Strasbourg’s vice-captain during their UEFA Conference League campaign.

Lastly, Senegal’s victory at the Afcon, where Sarr played in a final that was both significant and emotional—replacing Koulibaly who was suspended—marked a high point in his career.

Since joining Chelsea, Sarr has committed to taking daily English lessons that last an hour, showing impressive progress. While he often spends time with French-speaking teammates, his older brother also resides nearby in London, providing further support. Though his father Pape, a stabilizing figure who remains based in Lyon, occasionally gives advice, he avoids any pressure on Sarr.

“Our father never imposed any expectations on him,” Sarr’s brother Abdou shared regarding their upbringing. “It was actually our mother who took him to games and training sessions. Our father took a step back, allowing Mamadou to cultivate his own passion for football, which remains unchanged.”

Upon returning to Stamford Bridge, Sarr received a heartfelt ‘Afcon champion ’26’ jersey from his teammates, a moment that resonated deeply since his father was part of the Senegal squad that lost in the 2002 final.

“This is his fondest memory in football,” emphasized Abdou. “Our father’s pride is immense, having grown up in Senegal and recognizing the effort it takes to win that prestigious trophy.”