Senegal international striker Nicolas Jackson has completed a permanent move from Chelsea to Aston Villa. The Premier League club announced the signing on Friday, August 28, 2026, as they seek to bolster their attacking options following several high-profile departures.
Villa paid Chelsea an initial fee of £47.5 million, with add-ons potentially rising to £17.5 million. The 25-year-old, who has 37 caps for the Lions of Teranga, featured for his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Senegal was eliminated in the round of 16 by Belgium (3-2) on July 1st, finishing their World Cup campaign 3rd in their group with 3 points, scoring 8 goals and conceding 6.
Aston Villa faced a significant attacking exodus this summer. Forward Morgan Rogers was sold to Chelsea for a British record fee, while Ollie Watkins secured a move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal. Manager Unai Emery is familiar with Jackson, having previously coached him at Villarreal during the 2022-23 season where the Senegalese scored 12 goals in 26 LaLiga appearances.
Jackson brings varied European experience. After his stint at Chelsea where he netted 30 times in 81 appearances and won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup, he spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich. There, he won the Bundesliga and German Cup double while scoring 11 goals. His versatility and understanding of Emery's system make him an immediate asset for a club targeting Champions League football after last season's qualification.
Nicolas Jackson has been a regular for the Senegal national team for several years. He participated in both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, earning 37 caps. The Lions of Teranga's recent form has been mixed, with two wins and three losses in their last five matches, including two consecutive defeats. Fans can track the national team's progress on our dedicated stats page.
Jackson's arrival comes as Senegal looks to rebuild after their round of 16 exit from the 2026 World Cup. The team's recent record of 2 wins and 3 losses is a context the new Villa striker knows intimately.
Villa has been forced to sell several key players this summer to comply with the Premier League's financial regulations. Defender Ezri Konsa joined Arsenal, and midfielder Youri Tielemans signed for Manchester United. The acquisition of Jackson, while expensive, addresses a glaring tactical need after a heavy 4-0 opening day defeat to Brighton.
The Midlands club nevertheless maintains high ambitions after ending a 30-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League last season. The upcoming match against reigning champions Arsenal will be a major first test for Jackson in his new colors. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page.
The signing of Nicolas Jackson provides an immediate solution to Aston Villa's attacking concerns. For Senegal, it means one of its key forwards is returning to a Premier League side where he will be a starter, excellent news ahead of the resumption of continental qualifiers. The current national team squad can be viewed on our squad page.
