Nicolas Jackson joins Aston Villa as Chelsea agree £65m transfer

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Senegal international Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea on a long-term contract, strengthening Unai Emery’s attacking options with one of the manager’s long-standing transfer targets.

Jackson has signed a five-year deal at Villa Park, with an option to extend the agreement by a further 12 months. The transfer was agreed at a total value of £65m, with Aston Villa paying £47.5m up front to secure the 25-year-old forward’s move from Stamford Bridge.

The agreement between the two clubs was first reported by The Athletic last Tuesday, before Villa formally confirmed the signing.

“Reunited. This time in claret & blue.

Aston Villa is delighted to announce the signing of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea 🇸🇳”

Jackson becomes the second player to move from Chelsea to Aston Villa during the current transfer window. Alejandro Garnacho has also joined Villa on loan, with an obligation to buy provided certain conditions are met.

The traffic between the clubs has also gone in the opposite direction, with Morgan Rogers leaving Aston Villa for Chelsea in a club-record deal worth £117m.

Jackson had been regarded as a priority target for Aston Villa’s hierarchy and was particularly wanted by Emery, who had expressed a strong desire to bring the Senegal forward into his squad.

His move to Villa follows a season on loan with German club Bayern Munich. Jackson scored eight Bundesliga goals during that spell and helped Bayern Munich win the league title.

Although reports in June suggested Chelsea wanted to reintegrate Jackson into their first-team plans, and he had taken part in the club’s pre-season preparations, he has now left west London. He is the second Chelsea forward to depart this summer, following Liam Delap’s move to Nottingham Forest.

Jackson originally joined Chelsea from Spanish side Villarreal in 2023 for £32m. He signed an eight-year contract at the time and went on to make 81 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 30 goals.

His arrival gives Emery another attacking option as Aston Villa continue to reshape their squad. The club have now secured a player who was already familiar to the manager as a preferred target, while Jackson will be looking to establish himself at Villa Park after a campaign in which he contributed to Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga success.

The transfer also marks the latest significant exchange between Aston Villa and Chelsea, following Garnacho’s arrival in Birmingham and Rogers’ record move to Stamford Bridge.