Aston Villa have officially completed the signing of Senegal international Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea. The transfer, which marks a club-record fee of £65 million ($87 million), sees the 25-year-old striker commit to a five-year contract at Villa Park. The move reunites Jackson with manager Unai Emery, with whom he previously worked during their time together at Villarreal.
Emery confirmed the impending arrival during his Friday press conference ahead of Monday’s fixture against Arsenal. Jackson, who spent the previous campaign on loan at Bayern Munich, arrives to fill the vacancy left by Ollie Watkins. Watkins is currently finalizing a £50 million transfer to the Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. The 30-year-old Watkins, currently the club’s top Premier League goalscorer, reportedly declined to play in last weekend’s 4-0 loss to Brighton to facilitate his departure.
Jackson’s exit from Stamford Bridge follows a period of uncertainty, as he had been training away from the main Chelsea squad after being informed he was not part of manager Xabi Alonso’s long-term plans. He was initially sidelined by former boss Enzo Maresca last season. During his tenure at Chelsea, which began in 2023, Jackson recorded 30 goals in 81 appearances across all competitions, contributing to the club’s UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup titles.
Watkins is set to join a growing list of departures from Villa Park, which includes Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne. The club is now looking to integrate Jackson into the squad as they transition following these significant roster changes. The report also notes that emery had revealed the 25-year-old was set to sign when he spoke to the media in a press conference on Friday to preview Monday’s game against Arsenal.
