Jackson arrives at Villa Park as a replacement for Ollie Watkins, whose move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal is being finalised.
Published On ۲۹ Aug ۲۰۲۶
Aston Villa have signed Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea in a deal worth a reported club-record ۶۵ million pounds ($۸۸m).
Jackson agreed a five-year deal with the Europa League holders on Friday and is reunited with Villa manager Unai Emery after the pair worked together at Villarreal.
Emery had revealed the ۲۵-year-old was set to sign when he spoke to the media in a news conference on Friday to preview Monday’s game against Arsenal.
Jackson, who spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, arrives at Villa Park as a replacement for Ollie Watkins, whose ۵۰-million-pound ($۶۸m) move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal is being finalised.
Jackson had been training separately from Chelsea’s squad, having been told he was not in the plans of Blues boss Xabi Alonso.
He leaves Chelsea having scored ۳۰ goals in ۸۱ appearances in all competitions since moving to Stamford Bridge in ۲۰۲۳, helping the club win the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup.
Jackson was first frozen out by former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca last season.
While on loan at Bayern Munich last season, he scored ۱۱ goals and won the Bundesliga and German Cup. He has also played ۳۷ times for Senegal and was part of their squads for the ۲۰۲۲ and ۲۰۲۶ World Cups.
Watkins’ impending departure, which was also confirmed by Emery, means he will follow Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne out of Villa Park.
The ۳۰-year-old, who is the club’s top Premier League goalscorer, reportedly refused to play in last weekend’s ۴-۰ defeat at Brighton before his move to Saudi Arabia.
