Chelsea Makes 4th Signing In Nice Defender, Malang Sarr On Free Transfer

Chelsea has been the most active signing club in the EPL this season with the fourth signing, Malang Sarr. He would be loaned out immediately to gain experience and game time after completing a free transfer away from the French side, Nice.

The 21-year-old left the Ligue 1 club this summer following the end of his contract there and has now signed a five-year deal with Chelsea. He will spend the 2020/21 season out on loan. This will provide the chance to gain valuable game time and add to his experience so he will be ready to join the squad.

Welcome to Chelsea, Malang Sarr! ✍️

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 27, 2020

On signing Sarr, Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: ‘The opportunity to sign Malang was one we could not miss. He is a tremendous prospect and we will be monitoring him closely during his loan period, hoping he will soon be back at Chelsea. We are very happy to welcome him to the club today.’

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Sarr primarily plays as a center-back but also able to play on the left of a back three and at left-back (he is left-footed and six-foot-tall), within three years he had made 100 appearances and won the club’s young player of the year award. He has scored in the Europa League and has experience of the Champions League qualifying rounds. For his last two seasons on the Cote d'Azur he was managed by Patrick Vieira.

With Nice opting for a patient, build-up-from-the-back style, Sarr was often involved early in their moves and his passing into the attacking third had to influence. He has a good first touch and defensively, his mobility stands out.