Chelsea on Friday, June 30, announced they’ve signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal on an eight-year contract. The Blues signed the Senegal striker in a deal reportedly worth slightly more than his £30.1m release clause. 
Nicolas Jackson unveiled as Chelsea player. Source: Getty Jackson is now Mauricio Pochettino’s second summer signing since he took charge in May following the £52m arrival of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. Announcing their new signing, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said; “We are excited to welcome Nicolas to Chelsea. He is a young player with big potential, as he showcased for Villarreal last season. “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.” Jackson moved to Villarreral from Senegal in 2019 and, like Nkunku, can play as a central striker or on the wings. He played for Villarreal B before representing the first team from 2021 and has since scored 13 goals in 47 games, registering six assists. 
Nicolas Jackson coming in as a substitute for Villarreal. Source: Getty He almost signed for Bournemouth in January for about £25 million, but that deal collapsed after he suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out for most of the last campaign. Jackson’s late season form, in what was a breakthrough campaign, earned him La Liga Player of the Month in May, helping Villarreal finish fifth and qualify for the Europa League. He also featured for Senegal at the Qatar World Cup, making his international debut in a group-stage game against the Netherlands. The Senegalese star is expected to compete for a role in Pochettino’s frontline next season along with Nkunku, Armando Broja, and David Datro Fofana. With Nicolas Jackson confirmed, Chelsea now needs to clear more deadwood in their attack. Romelu Lukaku, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Christian Pulisic are still on the club’s books, and they will all need to be sold in the coming weeks.
Nicolas Jackson set to arrive Stamford Bridge for his medicals. Source: Getty The 22-year-old forward, who was close to joining Bournemouth in January this year, scored 12 La Liga goals in 26 appearances for Villarreal. With Nicolas Jackson now set for his Chelsea debut, Kai Havertz’s departure from the club is imminent with the German international strongly linked with a move to Arsenal. Popular journalist, Fabrizio Romano reported that Chelsea paid a little more than the €35m release clause in Jackson’s Villarreal contract. The transfer fee will be paid in installments. The Senegalese footballer will be joining the English club as Mauricio Pochettino’s second signing of the window after Ecuadorian Kendry Paez penned a deal to move from Independiente del Valle. Excl: Chelsea have finally reached full agreement to sign Nicolas Jackson, here we go! 🚨🔵🇸🇳 #CFC Understand Villarreal accepted Chelsea to pay just bit more than €35m release clause but better payment terms using installments. Medical being scheduled, personal terms agreed. pic.twitter.com/5fXQvWXIEf — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 23, 2023 Christopher Nkunku officially came in from RB Leipzig earlier this week, but a deal had been sealed months ago before Pochettino came in. As a youth, Jackson played for Senegalese team Casa Sports. He had one season with the top-flight side before Villarreal snapped him up in 2019 and the attacker began training with their U-19 team. After an initial struggle, it was believed the youngster would benefit from first-team football. Jackson spent the 2020-21 season on loan at second-division Mirandes, scoring his first professional goal against CD Castellón in a 1-1 draw a month after his arrival. 