Aston Villa Secures Nicolas Jackson in £65m Deal, Reuniting with Unai Emery

Aston Villa have finalized a £65 million agreement to bring Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea. The move reunites the striker with Unai Emery, who previously coached him at Villarreal, marking a major signing for the West Midlands club.

Emery Brings in Key Forward

According to The Athletic, the deal involves an upfront payment of £47.5 million for Jackson, with personal terms at Villa Park being finalized. The 25-year-old forward has been a top target for Villa and remains a favorite of Emery, who has pushed for his arrival in Birmingham for some time.

This transfer marks the third between the two clubs this summer, following Morgan Rogers' club-record £117 million move to Chelsea and Alejandro Garnacho joining Villa on a season-long loan with a conditional purchase obligation.

Jackson and Emery: A Proven Partnership

Jackson flourished under Emery at Villarreal, netting 13 goals before moving to Chelsea in summer 2023. Their strong bond played a big role in securing this transfer, as Emery knows how to get the best from the versatile forward.

Jackson joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £32 million on an eight-year contract, scoring 30 goals in 81 appearances. Although he showed flashes of his talent and relentless effort at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea chose to capitalize on his market value amid a squad overhaul.

Loan Spell in Germany

During the 2025-26 season, Jackson was loaned to Bayern Munich, contributing to their record 34th Bundesliga title with eight goals and two assists over 23 league games. The deal included a €16.5 million initial fee plus a €65 million conditional purchase clause that required Jackson to start 40 matches to make the move permanent.

Bayern's honorary president, Uli Hoeness, later explained that Jackson started only 13 matches across Bundesliga and Champions League combined, so the clause expired, sending him back to Chelsea before Villa entered the scene.

International Experience Boosts Villa

Jackson brings valuable international experience with 37 caps and eight goals for Senegal. Since his debut against the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup, he's become key to the Teranga Lions' attack, including four appearances and an assist during the recent World Cup where Senegal exited in the round of 32 against Belgium.

• Carabao Cup: Chelsea vs Luton Town, 27 Aug 2026, 20:30
• Premier League: Aston Villa vs Arsenal, 31 Aug 2026, 21:00