Jackson agreed a five-year deal with the Europa League holders and is reunited with Villa manager Unai Emery after the pair worked together at Villarreal. Aston Villa signed Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea in a deal worth a reported club-record 65 million pounds ($87 million) on Friday. Emery had revealed the 25-year-old was set to sign when he spoke to the media in a press conference on Friday to preview Monday’s game against Arsenal. Jackson, who spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, arrives at Villa Parkas a replacement for Ollie Watkins, whose 50 million pounds move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal is being finalised.
He leaves Chelsea having scored 30 goals in 81 appearances in all competitions since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2023, helping the club win the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup. The 30-year-old, who is the club’s top Premier League goalscorer, reportedly refused to play in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton ahead of his move to Saudi Arabia.
Jackson had been training separately from Chelsea’s squad having been told he was not in the plans of Blues boss Xabi Alonso.
