Nicolas Jackson: Chelsea's Incoming Senegalese Striker

Senegal have been mass-producing some of the most promising forwards in the world. Ismaila Sarr of Watford, Krepin Diatta of Monaco, Illiman Ndiaye of Sheffield United and Sadio Mane of Liverpool to name a few. However, one forward who has burst out onto the scene, namely in the second half of the 2022/23 season, is Villarreal’s Nicolas Jackson. Born in Banjul, The Gambia, but raised in Ziguinchor, Senegal, Jackson made the move to Europe in 2019, spending the 2020/21 season on loan at Mirandés before breaking through at the first-team level for the Yellow Submarine in 2022/23. Not only has the 21-year-old recorded 8 goals in the last 8 games of the season, but he is also close to signing a multiyear contract with Chelsea FC, becoming the first signing of the Mauricio Pochettino era.

Naturally, this did lead to a myriad of Didier Drogba comparisons, and although he does hold very similar strides and positioning, is a unique player with very clear attacking instincts. Only arriving in Europe from 2022 Senegalese Premier League champions Casa Sports in 2019, Jackson first started out in Villarreal B, where he really showed his true potential.

He registered 7 assists before the COVID break according to Harold Monteiro Macedo of footballtalentscout.net, which ultimately helped his team secure the Grupo VII de División de Honor. After a failed loan at Mirandes due to injury problems, and more great performances in Juvenil-A of Villarreal, he was promoted to train with the senior team in the 2021/22 season, making his debut vs Real Betis. 

One of the main features of Jackson’s style that makes him less of an old-fashioned number 9 and more of a modern one, is his ability to come and receive deep and his impressive link-up play that enables him to create chances.