Sarr officially completed his move from Strasbourg to Chelsea shortly before the Blues departed for the USA to compete in this summer’s Club World Cup and he is one of several players who could make their competitive debut in this evening’s opening game against LAFC.

Among the others is Andrey Santos, who excelled alongside Sarr during a loan spell at Strasbourg in 2024/25, before returning to Chelsea this summer.

However, while Mamadou is delighted with the welcome he has received since joining the Blues, he knows both players will need to continue their development given the stiff competition for places which comes in such a talented squad.

‘Firstly, I’m just really happy,’ said the 19-year-old. ‘Everyone has welcomed me really well – the French players, of course, because we speak the same language, but also Reece [James] and Tosin [Adarabioyo] have come and spoken to me.

‘Andrey is here with me, he’s a very good guy and he’s like a brother to me. We talked a lot last year about going to Chelsea and now we are here we have to work to get minutes.

‘The level is high, very high. It’s what I expected though, because Chelsea are one of the best clubs in the world. It is no surprise.

'It is good for me to have a lot of competition because it will help me to be a better defender. I have to progress, to work hard, to get minutes. I am enjoying it very much and am looking forward to the first game here.’

Chelsea’s opening match of the revamped Club World Cup arrives tonight, when we take on US side LAFC in Atlanta, Georgia.

As that fixture approaches, the defender echoed the excitement expressed by several of his new team-mates at the prospect of competing for the title of world champions, as well as explaining why this tournament provides the perfect start to his Chelsea career.

‘It is my first time in the USA, so I am really happy and excited for the Club World Cup,’ Sarr continued. ‘I am so excited to play in this tournament with this club.

‘It’s really important because it is the first edition [of the expanded tournament]. Every club wants to show they are the best team in the world, so Chelsea want to win it.

‘Being here with everybody is making it easier for me to get to know all the staff and everyone else who works for Chelsea.

‘I have spoken with the manager and his staff and they have told me how Chelsea play, how Chelsea defend, so it has been good. I think I will learn a lot from being here at this tournament, it will really help me.’

Chelsea's opening match of the Club World Cup against LAFC kicks off in Atlanta at 8pm UK time on Monday evening and you can watch the game live for free via DAZN by signing up here.