Who is Nicolas Jackson? Chelsea finally unearth potential Drogba successor

Stuart Telford

• 24 Jun 2023 10:08 BST
• 4 min read

Chelsea are set to sign Nicolas Jackson in a €37m transfer from Villarreal, but what else is there to know about the Senegalese striker?

Most of the column inches about Chelsea this summer have thus far been taken up by players leaving the club, with Kai Havertz set to join Arsenal and a host of players, including N'Golo Kante, on their way to Saudi Arabia.

But Havertz's departure in particular leaves a gap in attack that new manager Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted to fill with Nicolas Jackson, the Villarreal attacker who ended the season just gone with nine goals in his final eight La Liga games.

READ: Chelsea 'to complete' €37m transfer with Pochettino's first major signing

Chelsea have struggled to find a world class striker since Didier Drogba's heyday, but they look to have unearthed a real gem in Jackson. FootballTransfers takes a closer look…

What position does Jackson play in?

Jackson is a striker who is happiest leading the line, although he previously played deeper and wider before settling into his No.9 role at Villarreal.

With Romelu Lukaku, Havertz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, who could be just the player Chelsea need.

READ: Premier League makes HUGE decision on Chelsea's Saudi links

How good is Jackson?

Jackson late splurge of goals at the end of last season was just a glimpse of the talent that has seen him grow from a Gambia-born prospect to a full Senegal international and arguably the deadliest striker in La Liga.

Jackson concluded the season with 12 goals and 14 assists, with a goal-involvement rate of one every 100 minutes he played. He also averaged three progressive carries per 90 minutes played, and three shot-creating actions.

According to FootballTransfers official partner SciSports, Jackson has a potential SciSkill rating of 97.1, putting him well clear of Mykhailo Mudryk's 83.7, whom Chelsea paid a potential €100m for last January.

What clubs are interested in Jackson?

Teams further down the Premier League's typical pecking order like Bournemouth and Southampton were credited with an interest in Jackson during the January transfer window, but he remained relatively under the radar before Chelsea made their move.

When does Jackson's contract expire?

Jackson's Villarreal contract was due to expire on 30 June 2026, hence the Yellow Submarine were able to demand a significant fee for their player. Details of his Chelsea deal are yet to be release, but according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano it is a "very long-term contract."

How old is Jackson?

Born in Banjul, the Gambian capital, on 20 June 2001, Jackson is still just 22 at the time of writing.

He shares a birthdate with Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, as well as Kalidou Koulibaly, another of those players bound for Saudi Arabia.

What is Jackson's Instagram?

Jackson's Instagram can be found under the handle @jackson.nj11. He has 169k followers as of June 2023.