Chelsea have made the decision to recall Mamadou Sarr from his loan deal at Strasbourg ahead of the Blues’ Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Arsenal
16:09, 02 Feb 2026Updated 14:07, 03 Feb 2026
Mamadou Sarr is returning to Chelsea(Image: Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images)
Mamadou Sarr is eligible to feature for Chelsea against Arsenal on Tuesday evening after the Blues made the decision to recall the defender.
Chelsea have activated the break clause in the 20-year-old’s contract with sister club Strasbourg to bring him back to Stamford Bridge, with the official confirmation pending. Chelsea will bolster Liam Rosenior’s options in the centre of defence after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet, who has agreed to join Liverpool in the summer.
Sarr played under Rosenior more than 50 times for Strasbourg during their time together in France. And Sarr is eligible to go straight into the Carabao Cup squad for their semi-final second leg with the Gunners.
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EFL rules (6.4.2) state that a player that does not feature in the competition before the semi-final first leg stage is ineligible to feature for the rest of the tournament. However, after football.london spoke directly with the EFL for clarification, that rule only applies to players who have played for multiple clubs involved in the Carabao Cup.
For example, Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace and Manchester City. Guehi is ineligible for City’s second leg clash with Newcastle United this week after representing former club Palace earlier in the competition.
EFL rules state: “A registered player shall be permitted to play for up to two clubs in the competition in any one season where such player; has appeared for his parent or loan club in the competition prior to the closure of the summer transfer window and has either been recalled by the parent club or subsequently moved to a different club on a temporary loan transfer [or temporary transfer where a Premier League club] or permanent transfer prior to the end of that summer transfer window.
“Or; has appeared for his parent or loan club in the competition prior to the closure of the winter transfer window or the first leg of the semi-final [whichever is sooner] and has either been recalled by the parent club or subsequently moved to a different club on a temporary loan transfer [or temporary transfer where a Premier League club] or permanent transfer prior to the closure of the winter transfer window, or the first leg of the semi-final [whichever is sooner].”
Either way, Sarr only arrived in London today following his return to Chelsea. The defender is unlikely to be named in Rosenior’s squad at the Emirates.