Chelsea complete Malang Sarr free transfer with defender set to be loaned out after signing five-year deal

CHELSEA have completed the signing of Malang Sarr on a free transfer - with the defender set to be loaned out after signing a five-year deal.

The French centre-back, 21, played over 100 times in Ligue 1 for Nice.

But the Blues have decided to loan him out for his first season at Stamford Bridge to gain more first-team experience.

It has not yet been announced where Sarr will play next season on a temporary deal.

However, many Bundesliga clubs already said to be keen after he left Nice at the end of his contract in July.

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On the deal for 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."

Sarr should complement Chelsea's style perfectly in the coming years.

The defender is competent at both centre-back and on the left-side of a back-three - capable of starting attacks from the back.

Sarr had been at boyhood club Nice since the age of five and played 119 times in all competitions, scoring three times.

The defender is eligible to paly for Senegal through his parents.

But Sarr has played for France at every age group between Under-16 and Under-21.