Nicolas Jackson has revealed that he came close to signing for Aston Villa before his eventual move to Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
The Senegalese striker joined Chelsea from Villarreal in a £32m deal and, after a challenging debut season, has found his stride in the 2024/25 campaign. Jackson has netted eight goals and provided three assists in 14 Premier League games this season, evolving into a clinical finisher after struggling with inconsistency in his first year at Stamford Bridge.
However, the 23-year-old’s career path could have been very different. Jackson first rose to prominence at Villarreal during the 2022/23 season under then-manager Unai Emery. When Emery moved to Aston Villa, he attempted to bring Jackson to Villa Park in the January 2023 transfer window.
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“When Unai left, he wanted me to go to Aston Villa, but I was injured,” Jackson explained. “I had a hamstring problem, and when they checked, they said I needed another month to recover. They wanted me immediately, so the transfer had to be canceled, and I went back to Villarreal.”
Reflecting on the setback, Jackson added: “When I went back, I was very angry—not because the move didn’t happen, but because I wanted to prove myself. I told my friend on the plane, ‘Don’t worry, better things will come.’ Then I worked harder and ended up scoring 12 goals in two months.”
A £21m move to Bournemouth had also been agreed during that same window, but his hamstring injury caused him to fail the medical, ending another potential transfer.
Chelsea swooped in during the summer of 2023, giving Jackson his Premier League opportunity. Despite facing criticism in his first season, he still managed 17 goals in 44 appearances and looks poised to surpass that tally this season as he continues to grow into a key figure for the Blues.