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Mamadou Sarr, a rising talent in professional football, was born on August 29, 2005, in France. He currently plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Chelsea and represents Senegal on the international stage.
Mamadou Sarr Biography
Sarr is the son of Pape Sarr, a former Senegalese international. Born in Martigues, where his father played for Istres, Mamadou spent his formative years in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. He followed closely in his father’s footsteps, as Pape spent a significant portion of his career at Lens.
Career
Beginning his football journey with Étoile Sportive de Saint-Laurent-Blangy, Sarr eventually joined Lens, aligning with his father’s legacy. In 2018, he made a pivotal move to Lyon, where he quickly made a name for himself. By the 2021-22 season, he had secured a starting position with Lyon’s under-19 team, showcasing remarkable talent at just 16 years old.
Sarr played a crucial role in Lyon’s journey to victory in the Coupe Gambardella, teaming up with players like Hugo Vogel and Mohamed El Arouch. His performance was highlighted by goals in both the quarterfinals against Strasbourg and the semi-finals against Troyes. On May 27, 2023, he made his professional debut during Lyon’s commanding 3-0 Ligue 1 victory over Reims, stepping in for Maxence Caqueret in the 83rd minute.
On January 18, 2024, Sarr was loaned to Belgian club RWD Molenbeek for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Despite his efforts in 10 appearances, the club faced relegation. Subsequently, on August 22, 2024, Sarr transferred to Ligue 1’s Strasbourg for a fee of €10 million, securing a five-year contract with the team.
Sarr joined Ligue 1 team Strasbourg for a €10 million transfer fee on August 22, 2024, and signed a five-year contract. On June 9, 2025, Sarr signed an eight-year contract with Chelsea. On August 1, 2025, Chelsea announced that Sarr would be loaned out to Strasbourg on a season-long basis. Chelsea recalled Sarr on February 2, 2026.
Sarr, who was eligible to play for Senegal, selected France for his first youth team selections, even resuming captaincy with the under-17s on many occasions. In April 2022, he was chosen to represent France in the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, which would be held in Israel.
France won the competition with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the final, with Saël Kumbedi scoring twice. Sarr’s first call-up to the Senegal national team came in November 2025. FIFA approved his request to switch allegiance to Senegal on December 19, 2025.
Sarr was named to Senegal’s 28-man roster for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025. On January 18, 2026, he started and played the entire 120 minutes of the final against Morocco as a substitute for the injured and suspended Kalidou Koulibaly, assisting Senegal in winning their second AFCON trophy in the country’s history. Sarr appeared three times for the Senegal national team in this edition of the tournament.