Aston Villa close to £65m deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson

Aston Villa are on the brink of a major transfer coup, nearing a £65 million agreement to sign Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, with the deal structured to facilitate Villa’s sale of Ollie Watkins to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

Negotiations between Aston Villa and Chelsea have reached an advanced stage, with a framework agreed in principle. Villa will pay an initial £47.5 million for Jackson, with an additional £17.5 million in potential add-ons. The 25-year-old forward, capped eight times in 37 appearances for Senegal and a participant in the 2024 FIFA World Cup, would reunite with manager Unai Emery, under whom he played at Villarreal.

The proposed switch is contingent on Jackson agreeing personal terms and completing the move, but sources indicate the deal is all but finalized. His arrival is expected to trigger the £51 million departure of Ollie Watkins to Al-Hilal, bringing an end to the England international’s four-year tenure at Villa Park. Watkins, who joined from Brentford in 2020, leaves as Villa’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League with 91 goals.

Villa had prioritized replacing Watkins before sanctioning his sale, especially after his omission from Sunday’s 4-0 loss to Brighton, a decision Emery attributed to the player and his representatives. Meanwhile, the club is also preparing to send Tammy Abraham to Ipswich Town on loan, with no obligation to purchase included in the agreement.

Jackson’s potential arrival forms part of Villa’s ongoing summer rebuild, having already signed striker Johan Manzambi, midfielder Joao Gomes, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, and defender Matteo Ruggeri. However, the squad has seen significant turnover, with Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Ezri Konsa already departed. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is also expected to leave, with Chelsea reportedly interested in the Argentine following Suzuki’s arrival from Parma.

Since joining Chelsea from Villarreal for £35 million in 2023, Jackson scored 30 goals in 81 appearances. His most recent outing for the Blues came in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Fluminense, and he contributed to Chelsea’s UEFA Europa Conference League triumph. He spent the past season on loan at Bayern Munich, where he netted 11 times in 34 Bundesliga games, helping the German giants secure the domestic title.

Jackson’s potential move underscores Aston Villa’s ambition under Emery, as they seek to strengthen a squad reshaped by both arrivals and exits this summer.

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