Aston Villa Secures Nicolas Jackson in £65m Transfer from Chelsea

Aston Villa Completes £65 Million Signing of Nicolas Jackson

Aston Villa has finalized a deal worth £65 million to bring Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea. The Senegalese forward reunites with coach Unai Emery, who previously worked with him at Villarreal, as the striker prepares to join Villa Park.

Emery Reunites with Jackson in Major Transfer

The Athletic reports that Aston Villa will pay an initial £47.5 million upfront for Jackson, with personal terms currently being finalized. At 25 years old, Jackson has been a long-standing target for Villa and remains highly favored by Emery, who has pushed to bring him to Birmingham for some time. This transfer marks the third notable move between the two clubs this summer, following Morgan Rogers' club-record £117 million transfer to Chelsea and Alejandro Garnacho joining Villa on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Jackson’s History with Emery and Chelsea

Jackson flourished under Emery's guidance at Villarreal, netting 13 goals before moving to Chelsea in 2023. Their strong connection played a key role in making this transfer happen, as Emery knows how to unlock Jackson's versatility and potential.

Jackson joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £32 million on an eight-year contract and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances. Despite flashes of talent and work rate, Chelsea decided to cash in on his value as they rebuild their squad.

Loan Spell at Bayern Munich

During the 2025-26 season, Jackson was loaned to Bayern Munich where he contributed to their 34th Bundesliga title, scoring eight goals and assisting twice in 23 league games. Although there was an option to make the transfer permanent for €65 million, specific conditions were not met.

Bayern’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, explained that Jackson needed to start 40 matches, excluding domestic cup games, for the obligation to activate. Jackson started only 13 matches across the Bundesliga and Champions League combined, so he returned to Chelsea after the loan ended.

International Experience Strengthens Villa

Jackson brings solid international experience with 37 caps and eight goals for Senegal. Since debuting against the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, he has become a key figure in the Teranga Lions’ attack. He appeared in four matches during this summer's World Cup and recorded an assist before Senegal exited in the round of 32 against Belgium.

• Carabao Cup: Chelsea vs. Luton Town - 27 Aug 2026, 20:30
• Premier League: Aston Villa vs. Arsenal - 31 Aug 2026, 21:00