Chelsea sign Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson from Villareal

• Chelsea have signed Villareal forward Nicolas Jackson on an eight-year contract
• The Blues co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley described the Senegalese international as a young player with big potential

Premier League side Chelsea have signed forward Nicolas Jackson from Villareal. The 22-year-old has joined the Blues on an eight-year contract.

Jackson is Chelsea’s second signing this summer transfer window following the arrival of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. The two clubs involved in Jackson’s transfer did not disclose the amount involved; however, it is believed Chelsea will pay 32 million euros for the young forward.

Nicolas Jackson is the second signing Mauricio Pochettino has made since he took charge at the end of the 2022-23 season. Photo/ Chelsea Football Club.

Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley described the Senegalese international as a young player with big potential.

“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.” Chelsea.com quotes Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.

In his first interview since joining Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson said he always wanted to play for a team as big as the Blues.

“I wanted to join a big team and Chelsea is one of the best teams in the world, plus I’ve watched them since I was young. I watched Demba Ba, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka was good too, big players. So I always dreamed of playing for a team like this. So when Chelsea came my heart said the answer should be yes and I decided to follow it and come here.” Nicolas Jackson said, as per Chelsea’s official website.

Jackson joins Mauricio Pochettino’s side after a breakthrough season with Villareal. The talented forward scored 12 goals and assisted five for the Spanish side last season. He scored nine of those goals in the last eight games to help Villareal finish fifth at the end of the season.

Bournemouth had agreed a deal to sign Jackson in January but the Senegal international failed his medical tests due to a hamstring problem. After returning to Villareal in May, he became La Liga’s most in-form player, winning the La Liga Player of the Month for May.

Nicolas Jackson had his breakthrough last season, scoring nine goals in Villareal’s last eight games. Photo/ The Telegraph.

At international level, Jackson made his debut for the Senegal national team last year at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Mauricio Pochettino is in the process of building a new squad at Stamford Bridge this summer. Whereas they have made only two signings so far, the Blues have released several players over the past few weeks.

Nicolas Jackson’s fellow countrymen Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy are among high-profile departures. The two have moved to Saudi Pro League alongside World Cup winner N’Golo Kante, who agreed to sign for Saudi champions Al-Ittihad.