Chelsea’s rising star Mamadou Sarr has officially committed his international future to Senegal, despite representing France throughout his youth career.
The 20-year-old central defender, who joined Chelsea from Strasbourg in June for a fee of up to £12 million, will now represent the nation of his father, former Senegal midfielder Pape Sarr, who famously helped his country reach the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals.
After signing a long-term contract until 2033, Sarr was loaned back to Strasbourg for the 2025/26 season to continue his development. He has already made eight Ligue 1 appearances this term under Liam Rosenior, following an impressive 27-league-game campaign last season.
Despite being born in France, Sarr qualifies for Senegal through his father and has now been called up to the Senegal national team for their upcoming friendly against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium. His decision marks a significant moment in his young career, opening the door for a potential appearance at the 2026 World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations in December, where Senegal will face Botswana, Benin, and DR Congo in Group D.
Sarr’s journey so far has been remarkable. A former France U17 captain, he helped Les Bleus win the U17 European Championship in 2022 before featuring for France’s U18, U19, and U20 teams. However, his choice to represent Senegal reflects both pride in his heritage and a desire to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca previously described Sarr as one for the future, saying:
“They are both born in 2005, and we will have to understand when they will be ready, but in perspective, they are very strong players.”
With Senegal already qualified for next summer’s World Cup, Mamadou Sarr’s commitment adds further strength to an already talented national squad — and marks another exciting step in his promising Chelsea career.
