Chelsea have agreed to allow striker Nicolas Jackson to leave the club this summer, with the 24-year-old left out of the squad for Friday’s pre-season clash against Bayer Leverkusen. The Senegalese international trained alone at Cobham on Friday as speculation over his future intensified, following interest from Newcastle United.
Jackson joined Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 for a reported £32 million fee. Despite a mixed first season, he finished with 10 Premier League goals and remains a highly regarded talent within the club. However, with Chelsea making significant moves in the transfer market and signing two new forwards — Joao Pedro from Brighton and Liam Delap from Ipswich — opportunities for Jackson in the upcoming campaign appear limited.
Sources close to the club suggest that Chelsea are seeking a fee well above what they initially paid for Jackson, reportedly valuing him at over £64 million. The club believe this valuation is justified, citing Jackson’s impressive goal and assist record during his two seasons at Stamford Bridge. In total, he has scored 30 goals and registered 12 assists in 80 appearances across all competitions.
Chelsea are using the £52 million fee Arsenal paid for Noni Madueke — another former Chelsea player — as a benchmark. Club officials argue that Jackson’s superior end-product makes him worth significantly more on the current market.
While Newcastle are the most prominent club linked with Jackson, they are not alone. The Magpies recently missed out on signing RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who is expected to join Manchester United, and are now exploring alternative options to bolster their attacking line. Jackson, with his Premier League experience and physical style, fits the profile Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is said to be seeking.
Still, Chelsea will not sell at a discount. If their valuation is not met, the club is prepared to reintegrate Jackson into Enzo Maresca’s squad for the upcoming season. Maresca, who took over this summer, is believed to be open to working with Jackson, but the forward’s future may ultimately be dictated by financial considerations and Chelsea’s evolving tactical plans.
Jackson’s situation is also notable given his unusual contract length. The striker signed a nine-year deal with Chelsea in September 2024, keeping him tied to the club until 2033. Such long-term contracts have become a hallmark of Chelsea’s transfer policy under owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, allowing for the amortisation of fees over extended periods and providing more flexibility under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Despite the long contract, both the player and the club appear open to a move that benefits all parties. Jackson is believed to be seeking a team where he can play regularly and develop into a top-tier forward, while Chelsea remain focused on refining their squad to meet new tactical demands and financial targets.
Meanwhile, another Chelsea attacker, Christopher Nkunku, was also omitted from the squad for Friday’s match. Although the official reason given was a minor injury, reports suggest the Frenchman could also be the subject of transfer interest. Unlike Jackson, however, Nkunku has not yet reached an agreement with the club regarding a potential exit.
As the summer window continues, Chelsea’s strategy of aggressive recruitment and selective offloading continues to define their transfer business. While Jackson’s departure is not yet confirmed, the growing interest and the club’s openness to selling signal a likely change in the Blues’ attacking department before the deadline on 1 September.
Whether or not Jackson departs, his time at Stamford Bridge — marked by moments of brilliance and stretches of inconsistency — may soon come to an end, as Chelsea continue reshaping their squad for the next chapter under Maresca’s leadership.
