Aston Villa Near Deal for Chelsea Striker Nicolas Jackson

Aston Villa are closing in on a deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson in a move that could reshape the attacking landscape at both clubs – and push Ollie Watkins towards Saudi Arabia.

Villa are understood to have reached a broad agreement with Chelsea on a package worth up to £65m for the 25-year-old. The London club are set to receive their full asking price, built around an initial £47.5m fee and a further £17.5m in add-ons.

The last major hurdle is Jackson’s personal terms. Talks are advanced, the mood is positive, and if the Senegal international signs off on the contract he will be reunited with Unai Emery, the manager who first trusted him at Villarreal and helped launch his rise in Europe.

Watkins exit on the horizon

Jackson’s arrival is expected to have an immediate domino effect. If the deal goes through, it is likely to trigger England striker Ollie Watkins’ proposed move to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

For Villa, that would be a seismic departure. Watkins has been central to Emery’s high-tempo, front-foot style, but Villa’s summer strategy has been ruthless. Sentiment is taking a back seat to a sweeping rebuild.

Johan Manzambi has already arrived as a record signing, with Joao Gomes bolstering midfield, Zion Suzuki coming in as goalkeeper and Matteo Ruggeri strengthening the back line. Jackson would be the next major piece in that new-look side.

At the same time, the Europa League-winning XI from May is being stripped for parts. Watkins’ sale would make him the fifth starter from that triumph to move on.

• Morgan Rogers
• Youri Tielemans
• Lucas Digne
• Ezri Konsa

have already gone. Emiliano Martinez is expected to follow them out, underlining just how aggressively Villa are turning the page on a historic season.

Chelsea reset up front

Chelsea, for their part, are reshaping their own squad and wage bill. Jackson joined them from Villarreal in 2023 for £35m and has since scored 30 goals in 81 appearances, including a Europa Conference League win and a run to the Club World Cup, where his last appearance for the Blues came against Fluminense in 2025.

Last season he spent the year on loan at Bayern Munich, scoring 11 times in 34 games and helping the German giants reclaim the Bundesliga title. Chelsea banked a £14.3m loan fee from that deal, but Bayern did not trigger an obligation to buy set at £56.2m after Jackson fell short of the required 40 appearances of at least 45 minutes.

Now Chelsea are ready to cash in.

They are also preparing for more movement in attack. Fellow forward Liam Delap is expected to leave, with a £50m fee agreed with Nottingham Forest for the striker.

At the back, Chelsea are working on the next generation. Talks are ongoing with Atalanta over 18-year-old defender Honest Ahanor, valued at £34.3m by the Italian club, as they look to add another high-potential talent to their defensive options.

And in goal, change is coming too. Emiliano Martinez is now seen as expendable at Villa after Suzuki’s arrival from Parma, and Chelsea are weighing up a move for the Argentine as they consider their options between the posts.

If Jackson does walk through the doors at Bodymoor Heath in the coming days, Villa will have their new spearhead, Chelsea will have another major sale banked, and Watkins’ next chapter in Saudi Arabia will move sharply into focus.