Nicolas Jackson set for Aston Villa move after £47.5m plus Chelsea agreement

Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Chelsea for Nicolas Jackson, with the Senegal striker poised to become a key replacement for departing forward Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa have agreed a deal worth up to £65 million to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, with the Senegal international set to move to Villa Park as Unai Emery reshapes his attack.

The agreement, reported amid a busy final week of the summer transfer window, includes an initial £47.5 million payment with further money tied to add-ons.

Jackson, 25, is expected to arrive as a replacement for Ollie Watkins, who is closing in on a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. The striker previously worked with Emery at Villarreal, where he developed into a senior forward before moving to Chelsea in 2023.

Jackson has since scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for the London club but spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich. He returned to Chelsea after making 23 league appearances in Germany, scoring eight Bundesliga goals and contributing two assists.

Chelsea had been prepared to reintegrate him into their squad, but the club ultimately opted to pursue a permanent sale as manager Xabi Alonso reshaped his attacking options.

Aston Villa’s agreement also marks another significant transaction between the two clubs this summer following Morgan Rogers’ record £117 million move to Chelsea and Alejandro Garnacho’s loan switch in the opposite direction.

The deal had attracted attention because of UEFA regulations concerning closely timed player transactions, but the clubs have been able to structure the transfer without it automatically being treated as a player-exchange arrangement.

Jackson is now expected to complete the remaining formalities before becoming Villa’s latest major attacking addition.