Chelsea are preparing to recall Senegalese international defender Mamadou Sarr from his loan spell at RC Strasbourg, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano revealed on Monday that the Blues have made a firm decision on the 20-year-old, viewing him as a key long-term asset in central defence and an important part of the club’s future project. His return to London is expected to be completed imminently.

Sarr joined Chelsea from Strasbourg in June and featured for the club at the FIFA Club World Cup, making a brief appearance in their final group-stage match against Espérance Sportive de Tunis. He was subsequently loaned back to Strasbourg for the 2025/26 season under the BlueCo ownership structure.

However, Chelsea have now opted to bring the young centre-back back midway through the campaign to strengthen their defensive options for the second half of the season.

The defender previously worked under current Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior during his time at Strasbourg, before the manager’s move to Stamford Bridge earlier in January.

Internationally, Sarr initially represented France at U-20 level before switching his allegiance to Senegal in December, alongside Paris Saint-Germain prospect Ibrahim Mbaye. He quickly became an integral part of the Lions of Teranga setup, making three appearances at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Sarr started both the semi-final and final of the tournament, playing a crucial role as Senegal went on to lift the AFCON trophy for the second time in their history.