Nicolas Jackson

For other people with the similar name, see Nicholas Jackson (disambiguation).

Nicolas Jackson

Personal information
Full name	Nicolas Jackson [1]
Date of birth	(2001-06-20) 20 June 2001 (age 23) [2]
Place of birth	Banjul, The Gambia
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) [3]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Chelsea
Number	15
Youth career
2017–2018	Tilene
2018–2019	Casa Sports
2019–2020	Villarreal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Casa Sports
2019–2022	Villarreal B	25	(5)
2020–2021	→ Mirandés (loan)	16	(1)
2021–2023	Villarreal	35	(12)
2023–	Chelsea	46	(20)
International career‡
2018	Senegal U20	1	(0)
2022–	Senegal	19	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:33, 10 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 November 2024

Nicolas Jackson (born 20 June 2001) is a Gambian-born Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Chelsea and for the Senegal national team.

He played for Casa Sports in Senegal before joining Villarreal in 2019. After a loan to Mirandés in the Segunda División, he broke through in the reserve team and made his first-team debut in La Liga in 2021. In 2023, he signed an eight-year deal at Chelsea for a reported fee of £32 million.

Jackson made his senior international debut for Senegal in 2022. He was chosen for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Early life

Nicolas Jackson was born in Banjul, The Gambia, ^{[4] [5]} in 2001, to a Gambian father and Senegalese mother. In 2017, in the aftermath of the 2016 Gambian presidential election, the family moved to Ziguinchor, Senegal. ^{[6] [7]}

Club career

Early career

Jackson began playing for local side ASC Tilene before joining Casa Sports, ^[8] where he was a part of the first team squad during the 2018–19 season. ^{[9] [10]} He was also named man of the match in a 1–1 Ligue 1 draw against AS Pikine on 16 November 2018. ^{[11] [12]}

Villarreal

In September 2019, Jackson agreed to a contract with La Liga side Villarreal, ^{[13] [14]} being assigned to the Juvenil A squad.

Loan to Mirandés

On 5 October 2020, Jackson was loaned to Segunda División side Mirandés for the 2020–21 season. ^[15] He made his professional debut thirteen days later, coming on as a second-half substitute for Antonio Caballero in a 0–0 home draw against Mallorca. ^[16]

Jackson scored his first professional goal on 28 November 2020, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against CD Castellón. ^[17] It was his only goal of the season as the Jabatos finished in 10th place.

Breakthrough

Upon returning, Jackson played for Villarreal's B-team in Primera División RFEF, scoring seven goals as the side achieved promotion to the second division. He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 3 October 2021, replacing Arnaut Danjuma late into a 2–0 home win over Real Betis. ^[18]

Jackson scored his first goal in the top tier on 13 August 2022, netting the opener in a 3–0 away win over Real Valladolid. Thirteen days later, he and teammate Álex Baena were promoted to the main squad. ^[19]

In January 2023, Villarreal agreed a £22.5 million deal from AFC Bournemouth for the signing of Jackson but he failed his medical due to hamstring issues. ^[20] After returning to action in March, he scored nine goals within the months of April and May, which included braces against Celta de Vigo, Athletic Bilbao and Cádiz.

Chelsea

On 30 June 2023, Jackson signed for Premier League club Chelsea on an eight-year deal through 2031 for a fee reported to be £32 million. ^[21] On 13 August, he made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool in the Premier League. ^[22] Jackson scored his first Chelsea goal on 25 August 2023 against newly promoted side Luton Town, helping Chelsea to a 3–0 win at Stamford Bridge. ^[23] He scored his second Chelsea goal in a 1–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup. ^[24] On 6 November, Jackson scored twice in second-half stoppage time to complete a hat-trick in a 4–1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur. ^[25] He scored again in the next match against Manchester City, which ended in a 4–4 home draw. ^[26]

On 15 April 2024, Jackson scored his tenth Premier League goal of the season as well as providing an assist for Cole Palmer in a 6–0 win over Everton. As Palmer had already reached double digits in league goals, this became the first Chelsea season since 2017–18 in which two players had scored ten or more Premier League goals in a season. ^[27] On 5 May 2024, Jackson scored his first brace for Chelsea as well as providing an assist for Cole Palmer in a 5-0 home win over West Ham. ^[28]

Despite the heavy criticisms he faced in his first season in Chelsea, Jackson managed to score 14 Premier League goals in 35 appearances to make him the second highest African goal scorer in the 2023–24 season only behind Mohamed Salah. ^[29]

On 13 September 2024, Jackson signed a two-year contract extension with Chelsea, extending his contract until 2033. ^[30]

Jackson entered the 2024-2025 season strongly, with a goal and an assist to Cole Palmer against Wolves on 25 August 2024, following by another goal against Crystal Palace the following week. He would later go on to net a brace and assist another for Cole Palmer against West Ham. After the October international break, Jackson scored in back-to-back games against Liverpool and Newcastle, respectively.

International career

Jackson represented Senegal at under-20 level, ^{[31] [32]} receiving his first call-up in November 2018. ^[33]

After being called up to the full side by manager Aliou Cissé for two friendlies in September 2022, Jackson was included in the 26-man list for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on 11 November 2022. ^[34] He made his full international debut in Senegal's opening match of the competition, replacing Krépin Diatta in a 2–0 loss against the Netherlands. ^[35]

In December 2023, Jackson was named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast. ^[36] He came on as a substitute in all four games as the defending champions made it to the last 16. ^[37]

On 11 October 2024, Jackson scored his first international goal, concluding a 4–0 home win over Malawi in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. ^[38]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 November 2024 ^[39]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mirandés	2020–21	Segunda División	16	1	1	0	—		—		—		17	1
Villarreal B	2021–22	Primera División RFEF	25	5	—		—		—		2 [c]	2	27	7
Villarreal	2021–22	La Liga	9	0	1	0	—		0	0	—		10	0
	2022–23	La Liga	26	12	2	0	—		10 [d]	1	—		38	13
	Total		35	12	3	0	—		10	1	—		92	21
Chelsea	2023–24	Premier League	35	14	4	2	5	1	—		—		44	17
	2024–25	Premier League	11	6	0	0	0	0	1 [e]	0	0	0	12	6
	Total		46	20	4	2	5	1	1	0	0	0	56	23
Career total			122	38	8	2	5	1	11	1	2	2	148	44

1. Includes Copa del Rey, FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in Primera Federación promotion play-offs
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
5. Appearance in UEFA Conference League

International

As of match played 14 November 2024 ^[40]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Senegal	2022	1	0
	2023	5	0
	2024	13	1
Total		19	1

Senegal score listed first, score column indicates score after each Jackson goal.

List of international goals scored by Nicolas Jackson

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	11 October 2024	Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, Dakar, Senegal	17	Malawi	4–0	4–0	2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	[41]

Honours

Chelsea

• EFL Cup runner-up: 2023–24 ^[42]

Individual

• La Liga Player of the Month: May 2023 ^[43]
• Premier League Goal of the Month: October 2024 ^[44] (For the first time).

References

1. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Senegal (SEN)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 25. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
2. "Nicolas Jackson". Epic Sports. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
3. "Nicolas Jackson". Chelsea Football Club. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
4. Lowe, Sid (4 July 2023). "Street football to Premier League: Nicolas Jackson's road to Chelsea". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2024. Born in Banjul, the Gambia, he was raised in Ziguinchor, in the rural Casamance region of southern Senegal, [...]
5. "Gambie : Nicolas Jackson n'a pas oublié sa terre natale, découvrez le beau geste de l'international sénégalais (photos)" [The Gambia: Nicolas Jackson has not forgotten the land of his birth, discover the beautiful gesture of the Senegalese international (photos)] (in French). Senenews. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
6. "Nicolas Jackson arrives at Chelsea, hoping to emulate African heroes". fifa.com. FIFA. 6 July 2023. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
7. Ceesay, Ebrima (3 September 2023). "NICHOLAS JACKSON: GAMBIA'S LOSS IS SENEGAL'S GAIN". Alkamba Times. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
8. "Nicholas Jackson: The rise from Casa Sport to Chelsea". Sport News Africa. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
9. "Nicolas Jackson" (in French). Ligue Sénégalaise de Football Professionnel. Retrieved 7 October 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
10. "Jackson on his journey from street footballer to Chelsea star". Chelsea FC. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
11. "AS Pikine vs Casa Sports (1–1): les Pikinois tenus en échec à domicile" [AS Pikine vs Casa Sports (1–1): the Pikinois held in check at home] (in French). Ligue Sénégalaise de Football Professionnel. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
12. "Des verts de la Casamance aux Blues londoniens, la fulgurante ascension de Nicolas Jackson" [From the greens of Casamance to the London Blues, the meteoric rise of Nicolas Jackson] (in French). Africa Foot. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
13. "Mercato: Diomansy Camara fait signer un joueur du Casa Sport à Villarreal" [Transfer market: Diomansy Camara signs a Casa Sport player at Villarreal] (in French). Galsenfoot. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
14. "El Villarreal firma al joven delantero Nicolás Jackson el 'Neymar' senegalés para uno de sus dos filiales" [Villarreal sign young forward Nicolás Jackson the Senegalese 'Neymar' to one of their reserve teams] (in Spanish). Castellón Información. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
15. "Jackson will play on loan at Mirandés". Villarreal CF. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
16. "Un cerocerismo injusto por lo visto en Anduva" [An unfair 0–0 for what it was seen in Anduva] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
17. "El Castellón se crece y araña un buen punto de Anduva" [Castellón grow big and scratch a good point out of Anduva] (in Spanish). Marca. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
18. "Nicolas Jackson, la nueva perla amarilla que ya perfila Emery" [Nicolas Jackson, the new yellow pearl who Emery already shapes up] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
19. "Baena and Jackson officially become first-team players". Villarreal CF. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
20. "Bournemouth's swoop for Southampton target Jackson fails after medical". Southern Daily Echo. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
21. "Nicolas Jackson joins the Blues". www.chelseafc.com. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
22. "Chelsea 1–1 Liverpool: Mauricio Pochettino's side fight back to draw his first Premier League game in charge". Sky Sports. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
23. "Chelsea 3–0 Luton Town: Raheem Sterling double helps Blues see off Hatters". BBC. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
24. Steinberg, Jacob (27 September 2023). "Nicolas Jackson knocks Brighton out of Carabao Cup to lift gloom at Chelsea". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 18 October 2023.
25. "Chelsea beat nine-man Tottenham in chaotic epic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
26. "Chelsea 4–4 Manchester City: Cole Palmer hits late penalty to deny former club victory". BBC Sport. 12 November 2023.
27. "Chelsea 6-0 Everton: Cole Palmer scores four including 16-minute hat-trick". BBC Sport. 15 April 2024.
28. "Chelsea 5-0 West Ham: Nicolas Jackson nets brace as Blues cruise to big derby win". The Standard. 5 May 2024.
29. "Top African Goal Scorers In Premier League 2023/2024". African Folder. 25 May 2024.
30. Chelsea FC. "Nicolas Jackson signs contract extension!". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
31. "Matches amicaux – Les U 20 invités en Arabie saoudite" [Friendlies – U-20 invited to Saudi Arabia] (in French). Ligue Sénégalaise de Football Professionnel. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
32. "Préparation de matches amicaux : L'équipe nationale juniors en stage à partir de lundi" [Preparation for friendly matches: The national junior team in training camp from Monday] (in French). Ligue Sénégalaise de Football Professionnel. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
33. "Première sélection pour Nicolas Jackson du Casa-Sports" [First call-up of Nicolas Jackson from Casa Sports] (in French). SenePlus. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
34. "Aliou Cisse dévoile les 26 Lions pour Qatar" [Aliou Cissé unveils 26 Lions for Qatar] (in French). Senegalese Football Federation. 11 November 2022. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
35. "Jackson debuta con Senegal en el Mundial y cae ante Países Bajos" [Jackson debuts with Senegal in the World Cup and suffer defeat against the Netherlands] (in Spanish). Castellón Plaza. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
36. "Afcon 2023: Senegal and Sadio Mane set for defence of title". BBC Sport Africa. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
37. Mtuta, Lukhanyo (30 January 2024). "5 top stars who've flopped at AFCON 2023". Kick Off . Retrieved 26 October 2024.
38. "Jackson breaks duck as Senegal runs riot". beIN Sports. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
39. "Nicolas Jackson". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
40. "Nicolas Jackson". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
41. "Internationals: Jackson and Mudryk on target in wins". Chelsea FC.
42. McNulty, Phil (25 February 2024). "Carabao Cup final: Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
43. "Nicolas Jackson named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for May". La Liga. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
44. "Jackson wins Guinness Goal of the Month award". Premier League. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.

External links

• Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website
• Nicolas Jackson – UEFA competition record ( archive )