Chelsea have completed the signing of Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson on an eight-year contract from Spanish side Villarreal.
Jackson, 22, bagged 13 goals in 38 appearances for the LaLiga team last season, with 9 coming in the final eight league games.
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea co-sporting directors said: “He is a young player with big potential.”
“We believe he is ready for this next step in his career and look forward to him working with our new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, and his Chelsea teammates.”
Though Chelsea and Villareal are yet to reveal how much the deal was worth, reports have it that the Blues will pay £32m for Jackson.
Kai Havertz recently joined Arsenal for a £65m deal with Mateo Kovacic joining Manchester City for an initial £25m.
Jackson’s country-mate Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly have both departed the club to join Saudi Arabian clubs.
N’Golo Kante on the other hand departed Chelsea to join Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad.
Hakim Ziyech recently underwent medicals for a deal with Al-Nassr but it fell off after the Morocco international failed medicals.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek also completed a move to AC Milan on Friday after the English midfielder spent 19 years at the club.
English side Bournemouth previously agreed a £20.3m deal for Nicolas Jackson in January, but the move fell through after his medical.
The Senegalese returned to Villareal in March and went on to win the La Liga Player of the Month award for May.
His contributions to Villareal helped them finish fifth in the Spanish League and earned them Europa League qualification.
The Chelsea new signing went to the World Cup with Senegal, making his debut against the Netherlands in the group stage.
Jackson added two further caps in June, giving an assist in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw against Benin and a 4-2 friendly win over Brazil in Lisbon, Portugal.
Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson is a Senegalese professional football player, who plays as a striker for Villarreal in La Liga, and Senegal national team.
The striker was born on 20 June, 2001 in Banjul, and with Senegalese ancestry. Jackson moved to Ziguinchor, Senegal at the age of 16.
Jackson started his playing career for local side ASC Tilene before joining Casa Sports, where he was a part of the first-team squad during the 2018–19 season.
The Senegalese was named man of the match in a 1–1 draw against AS Pikine on 16 November 2018 before he moved to Villareal in September 2019.
Jackson has secured a move to Chelsea and will be flying the Blue shirt of the West London club in the Premier League next season.
Jackson is known for his speed, stamina, good positioning, and goal-scoring skills. He is a good dribbler with a good work rate and athleticism.
Will Jackson Break The Number 9 Curse At Chelsea?
Nicolas Jackson has been nicknamed “Neymar” in Senegal because of his brilliant dribbling skills.
He is a versatile player who can be deployed as an attacking midfielder and a top 9.
Jackson possesses an incredible and blistering pace with good positioning skills that make him very great in link-up play.
Ever since Didier Drogba left Chelsea, the number 9 position has not been filled to the expectations of the Blues’ fans.
There have been so many signings of different strikers to fill in that void but it’s been shambles with Aubameyang being the last of them.
Will Nicolas Jackson break that striker jinx? Well, only time will tell as we prepare for a new season.
