Chelsea Football Club have successfully agreed a deal with Villarreal to sign striker Nicolas Jackson for a fee of €37m (£31.8m).
The talented Senegalese forward has signed an eight-year deal with the London club after passing his medical on Sunday. Jackson’s impressive performance last season saw him score 12 goals in 26 appearances in La Liga. Although he came close to joining Bournemouth earlier in the year, a botched medical with a hamstring problem hampered the move.
The 22-year-old’s impressive goalscoring form, which includes eight goals in his last eight games, has attracted interest from other Premier League clubs such as Aston Villa and Everton. However, it is Chelsea who have secured his signature by going beyond his release clause to negotiate more favorable payment terms as part of the contract structure.
Jackson initially moved to Villarreal from Senegal in 2019 and was subsequently loaned out to Merandez in the second tier. Impressing the club’s B team, he made his La Liga debut in October 2021, before establishing himself as a key attacker.
Chelsea’s acquisition of Jackson follows the recent signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £51 million. The new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has prioritized strengthening the squad’s attacking options after a disappointing season that saw Chelsea finish 12th and miss out on European football, averaging a paltry goal per game. with.
The length of Jackson’s eight-year deal is consistent with the ownership policies of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, which use waivers to accommodate significant transfer fees while adhering to Financial Fair Play regulations.
As Jackson and Nkonko joined Chelsea’s ranks, several players were rumored to be leaving the club. Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, and Mason Mount are among those linked with a possible move away from Stamford Bridge. Additionally, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy are reportedly close to joining clubs in the Saudi Pro League, joining N’Golo Kanté, who completed his move to Al Tihad last week. Kalidou Koulibaly’s departure has already been confirmed, with the defender completing a move to Al Hilal after one season with Chelsea. The Blues have agreed a fee with Al Ahly for Mendy’s transfer, and the goalkeeper is expected to fly to Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Chelsea’s latest signing of Nicolas Jackson exemplifies the club’s determination to strengthen their squad and compete at the highest level next season.
