EPL: Chelsea reaches agreement to sign Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal

West London club, Chelsea has sealed their second signing of the summer after clinching a deal for Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson.

The 22-year-old Senegalese international has agreed personal terms with the Blues and is now set to undergo medicals at Stamford Bridge. 

The 22-year-old forward, who was close to joining Bournemouth in January this year, scored 12 La Liga goals in 26 appearances for Villarreal.

With Nicolas Jackson now set for his Chelsea debut, Kai Havertz’s departure from the club is imminent with the German international strongly linked with a move to Arsenal.

Popular journalist, Fabrizio Romano reported that Chelsea paid a little more than the €35m release clause in Jackson’s Villarreal contract. The transfer fee will be paid in installments.

The Senegalese footballer will be joining the English club as Mauricio Pochettino’s second signing of the window after Ecuadorian Kendry Paez penned a deal to move from Independiente del Valle.

Excl: Chelsea have finally reached full agreement to sign Nicolas Jackson, here we go! 🚨🔵🇸🇳 #CFC

Understand Villarreal accepted Chelsea to pay just bit more than €35m release clause but better payment terms using installments.

Medical being scheduled, personal terms agreed. pic.twitter.com/5fXQvWXIEf

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 23, 2023

Christopher Nkunku officially came in from RB Leipzig earlier this week, but a deal had been sealed months ago before Pochettino came in.

As a youth, Jackson played for Senegalese team Casa Sports. He had one season with the top-flight side before Villarreal snapped him up in 2019 and the attacker began training with their U-19 team.

After an initial struggle, it was believed the youngster would benefit from first-team football. Jackson spent the 2020-21 season on loan at second-division Mirandes, scoring his first professional goal against CD Castellón in a 1-1 draw a month after his arrival.

It was his only goal of the campaign, one in which he played 16 times. Seeing he was beginning to settle in, Villarreal moved Jackson to their reserve team, where he became the main man scoring seven goals to help the team achieve promotion to the second tier.