The eight-year contract for Mamadou Sarr honestly surprised me. It feels like a huge risk to lock in a teenager for that long, but I've noticed that's just how Chelsea works lately. The club is basically betting that Sarr will become super valuable in a few years, and if he does, they've already got him locked in so no one else can swoop in and grab him. It also helps Chelsea spread out the money they pay for him over more years, which apparently makes their finances look better, at least for the way football accounting works.

From my perspective, it also puts a ton of pressure on Mamadou Sarr. Imagine being 18 and having your whole career basically planned out at one club! I've heard that super long contracts might make it harder for a player to leave if things don't work out, too. Sometimes it seems less about trusting the player and more about making sure Chelsea doesn't lose money.

Anyway, I'm curious to see if this strategy actually works. Sarr's got years to prove everyone right or wrong, but I kinda wish clubs just let young players develop without tying them down forever.