Aston Villa Close in on Nicolas Jackson Deal from Chelsea

Aston Villa are closing in on a deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson in a move that could reshape Unai Emery’s attack – and quite possibly Chelsea’s summer, too.

Villa and Chelsea have reached broad agreement on a package worth up to £65m for the 25-year-old, with the London club set to receive their full valuation. The structure is clear: £47.5m up front, with a further £17.5m in add-ons to follow if conditions are met.

All that stands in the way now are personal terms and the formalities of the move. Talks are described as advanced, and there is an added twist: Jackson is expected to reunite with Emery, the coach who first leaned on his pace and movement at Villarreal.

Watkins exit looming

Jackson’s arrival would not just be another piece of Villa’s rebuild. It is likely to be the trigger for Ollie Watkins’ departure.

The England international is wanted by Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, and Villa are preparing for life without the striker who has led their line through their recent rise. If Watkins goes, he will become the fifth starter from the team that lifted the Europa League in May to be sold.

That exodus has already begun. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have all left. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is expected to follow, with Chelsea weighing up a move for the Argentine after Villa brought in Zion Suzuki from Parma and deemed Martinez expendable.

This is not tinkering at the edges. It is a full-scale overhaul of a European trophy-winning side.

Emery’s new-look Villa

Jackson would slot into a squad already undergoing heavy surgery. Villa have smashed their transfer record to sign Johan Manzambi, added Joao Gomes in midfield, brought in Suzuki in goal and strengthened at the back with Matteo Ruggeri.

Emery is building a different version of Villa: younger, quicker, more aggressive in transition. Jackson fits that blueprint.

The Senegal international joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £35m in 2023 and has since scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for the Blues. He helped Chelsea win the Europa Conference League and featured most recently for them in the Club World Cup against Fluminense in 2025.

Last season he took a different route, heading to Germany on loan. At Bayern Munich he scored 11 times in 34 games, playing his part in another Bundesliga title. Chelsea banked a £14.3m loan fee from that deal, but the agreement’s obligation-to-buy clause, set at £56.2m, was never activated because Jackson fell short of the threshold of 40 appearances of at least 45 minutes.

Now Villa are ready to pay even more to make him their spearhead.

Chelsea’s moving pieces

While Villa reshape, Chelsea are hardly standing still.

Jackson’s expected sale would continue their trend of cashing in on assets to fund another wave of recruitment. At the same time, they are preparing for change in their own forward line, with Liam Delap also set to depart. Nottingham Forest have agreed a £50m fee for the striker, who looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge.

At the back, Chelsea are already planning for the future. Talks are ongoing with Atalanta over 18-year-old defender Honest Ahanor, valued at £34.3m by the Italian club. If a deal is struck, he would join a growing group of young, high-ceiling signings aimed at reshaping the squad for the long term.

The picture is clear on both sides of this deal. Villa are betting big that Jackson can lead a new era under Emery. Chelsea are cashing in and reloading again.

The only question now: how quickly will the dominoes fall once Jackson signs on the line?