Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa was confirmed on Friday, with the Senegal striker joining from Chelsea in a deal reported to be a club-record £65 million. The 25-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Europa League holders, according to the club.
Jackson links back up with Unai Emery, under whom he previously worked at Villarreal. Emery told reporters on Friday, during his preview of Monday’s match against Arsenal, that the forward was set to complete the move.
Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa replaces Watkins
Jackson arrives as a direct replacement for Ollie Watkins, whose £50 million transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal is being finalised, the manager said. Watkins, the club’s all-time leading Premier League scorer, is set to depart after what multiple reports described as his refusal to play in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
The striker spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, where he scored 11 goals and collected a domestic double with the Bundesliga title and German Cup. He was first sidelined at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca last season, and more recently trained away from the first team after being told he was not in Xabi Alonso’s plans.
Jackson leaves Stamford Bridge with 30 goals in 81 appearances in all competitions since joining in 2023. During that period Chelsea lifted the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
At international level, Jackson has 37 caps for Senegal and featured at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups.
Watkins’ impending exit would continue a busy window for Villa, with Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne also set to leave, according to Emery. Forecasters have also warned that wider sporting calendars could be affected by extreme weather linked to events such as the strongest El Niño in decades, adding another layer of uncertainty for clubs and competitions.