Aston Villa have secured the signing of Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth a club-record £65 million ($87 million). The forward has committed to a five-year contract with the Europa League holders, reuniting with manager Unai Emery, who previously worked with Jackson at Villarreal.
Emery confirmed Jackson’s imminent arrival during a press conference ahead of Villa’s upcoming match against Arsenal, signaling a significant addition to the squad. Jackson, 25, spent the previous season on loan at Bayern Munich before making this move to Villa Park, where he is expected to fill the void left by Ollie Watkins.
Transition at Villa Park
Watkins is poised to complete a £50 million transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, a move that Villa manager Emery has publicly confirmed. Watkins, who is the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer at 30 years old, reportedly declined to participate in Villa’s recent 4-0 loss to Brighton, anticipating his departure. His exit follows a series of departures from Villa Park this summer, including Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne.
Before joining Aston Villa, Jackson had been training separately from Chelsea’s main squad after being informed by Blues’ head coach Xabi Alonso that he was not part of the club’s plans. His time at Chelsea saw him score 30 goals in 81 appearances across all competitions since his arrival in 2023, contributing to the club’s victories in the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup.
Jackson’s exclusion from Chelsea’s squad began last season under former manager Enzo Maresca. Now, he embarks on a new chapter at Aston Villa, aiming to make an immediate impact under Emery’s guidance.