Chelsea sign French defender Malang Sarr from Nice

igue 1 - Lille v OGC Nice - Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France - February 1, 2019, Lille's Nicolas Pepe in action with Nice's Malang Sarr [REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol]

Chelsea have signed Malang Sarr from Nice on a five-year-deal.

The 21-year-old Frenchman’s contract expired at the end of the 2019/20 season, leaving him free to join any club.

Welcome to Chelsea, Malang Sarr! ??

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 27, 2020

Sarr, however, will be sent out on loan for the whole 2020/21 season according to the club.

“This will provide the chance to gain valuable game time and add to his experience so he will be ready to join our squad,” Chelsea said on their website.

“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,” Marina Granovskaia, Chelsea director said.

Sarr graduated from the Nice Academy at the age of 17, where he had spent 12 years.

He became the second youngest player to ever score on his debut in Ligue when he headed home a Jean-Michael Seri set-piece against Rennes on August 14, 2016.

He eclipsed 100 appearances for Nice across all competitions in August last year.

EIGHT CHELSEA PLAYERS QUARANTINE OVER CORONAVIRUS

Premier League - Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - July 26, 2020 Chelsea's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring their second goal [Pool via REUTERS/Mike Hewitt]

On Wednesday, August 26 it was reported eight Chelsea players were in quarantine after the contracted the coronavirus.

The Telegraph reported on Thursday, August 27 the eight players who had to quarantine included Jorginho, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Ross Barkley, Emerson, Christian Pulisic, Fikayo Tomori and Michy Batshuayi.

Mount, Tomori, Abraham and Pulisic were reportedly together in Mykonos, Greece on holiday. The other four are currently self-isolating and will have to miss pre-season training.