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Nicolas Jackson discloses he was close to joining Premier League rival before signing with Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson has revealed that he nearly joined Aston Villa prior to his transfer to Chelsea in 2023.

The Senegalese forward made his way to west London after Chelsea invested £32 million in the ex-Villarreal player. Following a challenging first season in England, Jackson has established his form in the 2024/25 campaign.

The agile striker has netted eight goals and provided three assists in 14 Premier League matches, emerging as a prolific finisher despite facing difficulties with scoring in his first year at Chelsea.

However, Jackson has disclosed that his career trajectory could have been quite different.

The 23-year-old first gained recognition at Villarreal during the 2022/23 season under the management of now Aston Villa‘s Unai Emery, who was eager to bring Jackson to Villa Park in the January 2023 transfer window. Unfortunately, the move fell through due to a hamstring injury the player was dealing with at the time.

Nicolas Jackson, Unai Emery, Yeremi Pino
Nicolas Jackson, Unai Emery, Yeremi Pino (Image credit: Getty Images)

“When Unai left, he wanted me to sign with Aston Villa, but I was injured,” Jackson stated. “I was eager to leave because the coach had arrived. However, I had a slight hamstring issue. We went there, they examined me and determined I needed another month, and they wanted me right away.”

“If they wanted me in a week or two, I was not fit, so they had to abort the transfer, and I returned.”

“After I came back, I was quite upset. I wasn’t angry about not signing; while we were on the plane, I told my friend, ‘Don’t worry, better opportunities will come, and that’s life.’ Then, I dedicated myself to improving to play for Villarreal. Upon my return, I believe I scored 12 goals within two months.”

during that January window, but his hamstring injury led to Jackson failing the medical examination on the south coast.

Ultimately, the forward did not have to wait long to secure his spot in the Premier League, as Chelsea acquired him in the following summer transfer window.

Despite criticism during his inaugural season at Chelsea, Jackson concluded the campaign with 17 goals from 44 matches, and the promising forward is poised to surpass that record this season.

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