Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa
Emery reunion after Watkins exit

1. 28 Aug
   Transfer confirmed

   Chelsea and Aston Villa both confirmed Nicolas Jackson's permanent transfer, with his medical and contract signing completed.
2. 27 Aug · 11:46
   Fee agreed

   Sky Sports reported Aston Villa had agreed a deal worth up to £65m with Chelsea for Jackson.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, reuniting him with manager Unai Emery as a replacement for the departing Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, with the move confirmed by both clubs on Friday 28 August 2026. The deal is worth up to £65m, with Chelsea understood to have received around £47.5m up front and further add-ons, tied to appearances and performance, able to push the total towards that figure. Jackson has signed a five-year contract at Villa Park, with the option of an additional year.

The move reunites Jackson with Unai Emery, who worked with the Senegal striker during his time at Villarreal before taking charge at Villa. Emery has long rated Jackson's movement and directness in behind defences, and the signing gives Villa an established Premier League forward to replace Ollie Watkins, who has left for Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal in a separate deal reported at around £50m. Speaking previously about Jackson's game, Emery said: 'When he starts scoring more often, he'll be a very important player because he creates chances himself.'

Chelsea sold Jackson after deciding he was not part of Xabi Alonso's plans for the season, with the striker training away from the first-team group before the deal was finalised. He had joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £32m in 2023 and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances across all competitions, helping the club win the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, including a goal in the Club World Cup final against Real Betis. Announcing his departure, Chelsea's statement read: 'We thank Nico for his efforts during his time at the club and wish him well for the future.'

Jackson spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, who won the Bundesliga title, but was mostly used from the bench behind Harry Kane. He made 23 league appearances, starting seven of them, and scored eight goals. Bayern chose not to exercise the obligation-to-buy clause included in the loan, which sent Jackson back to Chelsea this summer and cleared the way for Villa to finalise a deal they had been pursuing.

At Villa, Jackson is expected to lead the line as Watkins' direct replacement, offering pace in behind opposition defences and the kind of movement Emery builds his attack around. His minutes were limited in Germany, so his sharpness in front of goal at this level is unproven over a full season, but he arrives with Premier League experience and a working relationship with his manager already in place, which should help him settle quickly into the squad.

• Announced by the clubs100

A sourcing score, not a chance of completion: it grades how solid the reporting behind the move is. The stage and the evidence come from the sources listed below; the arithmetic is fixed in code, the same for every deal.

• Aston Villa sign striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea - ESPN
• Nicolas Jackson transfer: Aston Villa agree deal worth up to £65m to sign Chelsea striker - Sky Sports
• Nicolas Jackson departs Chelsea on permanent transfer - Chelsea FC
• Aston Villa complete £65m signing of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea as Unai Emery reunites with former Villarreal striker - Goal.com
• Aston Villa Complete Signing Of Nicolas Jackson - Why Did Chelsea Sell The £65m Striker? - Yahoo Sports