Chelsea sign with Nicolas Jackson
Renowned Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Chelsea FC has reached a final agreement to secure the signing of Senegalese winger Nicholas Jackson from Villarreal.
Chelsea sign with Nicolas Jackson
In their first summer deal, Chelsea had already acquired French talent Christopher Nkunku from Leipzig, Germany.
Jackson, a 22-year-old player, has a contract with Villarreal that extends until the summer of 2026.
Taking to Twitter, Romano shared the news that Villarreal had agreed to sell their player, with Chelsea paying slightly more than the €35 million release clause stated in Jackson's contract. However, Chelsea has structured the payments in installments, offering better terms.
Romano further revealed that a date has been set for Jackson to undergo medical examinations once all the personal terms of the contract have been finalized.
Impressively, Jackson netted 13 goals and provided 5 assists for Villarreal in the 38 matches he played across various competitions last season.
The arrival of Nicholas Jackson at Chelsea is highly anticipated, and Goal takes a closer look at this player who has drawn comparisons to Neymar and Mane.
Chelsea experienced a disappointing season, with criticism mainly directed towards Kai Havertz for his lack of goals.
Considering the need for a striker in the upcoming season seems reasonable, even though the club spent nearly £600 million in the previous year.
It appears that Nicholas Jackson will be the latest addition to Chelsea's squad. While not a widely recognized name, he came close to joining the modest Bournemouth team in January. However, his remarkable performances at Villarreal make him a perfect fit for the type of players Chelsea has been recruiting since Todd Boley took over.
Born in Gambia, Jackson grew up in neighboring Senegal and decided to represent the Teranga Lions at the international level. He spent his formative years in a Senegalese city and joined a local team called Club Teleni.
It didn't take long for him to rise through the ranks and make appearances in the Senegalese league with the first team.
His international breakthrough came later when he received a call-up to Senegal's U-20 squad in November 2018. Manager Youssouf Dabo praised his ability to initiate fantastic attacks and commended his dribbling skills.
Villarreal signed Jackson in the summer of 2019, and he was subsequently loaned to Mirandes in the second division. However, he managed to score just one goal in 16 league matches. He returned to Villarreal and featured for their youth team.
The real opportunity for Jackson arrived in the 2021-22 season when he showcased his quality in the Spanish Premier League, primarily participating in the King's Cup.
Unfortunately, Jackson's progress was interrupted by a long-term injury, but he demonstrated resilience upon his return, scoring nine goals in eight matches, thus helping secure the team's position in the top five.
facts about Jackson
Jackson's abilities extend beyond his goal-scoring prowess. He possesses exceptional quality, notable passing ability, and impressive dribbling skills.
Furthermore, he has outperformed notable young players like Ferguson, Youssoufou Moukoko, and Jamal Musiala in terms of goal-scoring at the age of 21.
His intelligence in football is evident through his ability to create chances and execute successful dribbles.
Jackson possesses a keen sense of when to exploit opportunities to penetrate the opponent's defense—an encouraging trait in such a talented young player.
