Chelsea confirm Nicolas Jackson signing

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of striker Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal on an eight-year deal.

The 22-year-old is understood to have passed his medical with the Blues earlier this week, having previously failed a medical after agreeing a deal to join Bournemouth in January.

Chelsea have now confirmed the signing after triggering the €37m (£31.8m) release clause in his contract at Villarreal.

Jackson has put pen to paper on an eight-year deal at Stamford Bridge that will keep him at the club until 2031.

"We are excited to welcome Nicolas to Chelsea. He is a young player with big potential, as he showcased for Villarreal last season," read a statement from co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.

... Nic Jackson! 💙 pic.twitter.com/IRFcrXnXf6

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 30, 2023

"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 teammates."

The Gambia-born Senegal international enjoyed a breakthrough 2022-23 campaign for Villarreal, scoring 12 goals including nine in the final eight matches of the season.

Jackson joined the Yellow Submarine in 2019 and went on to score 13 goals for the club in 47 appearances across all competitions.

The centre-forward's emergence last season also saw him called up to the Senegal squad for the World Cup in Qatar, where he made his debut for the national team.

Jackson's arrival continues another busy transfer window at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea having already brought in Christopher Nkunku and offloaded Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N'Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko this summer.