Chelsea
have signed striker Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.
The 22-year-old has agreed an eight-year deal at Stamford Bridge after
Chelsea paid Villarreal slightly more than his £30.1m release clause in
exchange for more favourable payment terms.
The Senegalese forward becomes Mauricio Pochettino's second summer signing
since he took charge in May following the £52m arrival of Christopher Nkunku
from RB Leipzig.
Jackson scored 12 goals and provided five assists in all competitions for
Villarreal last season.
Bournemouth had agreed a deal to sign the Senegalese forward for £22.5m in
January but he failed his medical with a hamstring problem.
Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: "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
team-mates."
Jackson's late season form, in what was a breakthrough campaign, earned him
LaLiga player of the month in May, helping Villarreal finish fifth and
qualify for the Europa League.
He also featured for Senegal at the Qatar World Cup, making his
international debut in a group stage game against the Netherlands.
Jackson's 'sliding doors' moment that led
to Chelsea move
Sliding Doors - the iconic film directed by Peter Howitt - recently
celebrated its 25th anniversary.
It follows Gwyneth Paltrow's character Helen and the two paths her life
could take depending on whether or not she catches a train one day.
Bournemouth were close to signing the 22-year-old back in January from
Villarreal only for the deal to collapse amid concerns over a hamstring
injury he had suffered. Jackson failed a medical on the south coast.
The Cherries had indeed agreed a £21m fee but with relegation still a
serious possibility, they needed as many fit players as possible and opted
not to gamble on Jackson's status.
Had he moved to Bournemouth, would Jackson have predominantly played wide of
Dominic Solanke, once of Chelsea? The player would shake off those concerns
with a blistering end to the campaign for the Yellow Submarine.
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