# Nicolas Jackson

Nicolas Jackson (born 20 June 2001) is a 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, 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.

## Club career
### Early career

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

### Villarreal

In September 2019, Jackson agreed to a contract with La Liga side Villarreal, 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. 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.
Jackson scored his first professional goal on 28 November 2020, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against CD Castellón. 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.
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.
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. 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. On 13 August, he made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool in the Premier League. 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. 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. He scored again in the next match against Manchester City, which ended in a 4–4 home draw.
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. On 5 May 2024, Jackson scored twice and provided an assist for Palmer in a 5–0 home win over West Ham United. Jackson scored 14 league goals across 35 appearances, making him to make him the second highest African goal scorer in the 2023–24 season only behind Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
On 13 September 2024, Jackson signed a two-year contract extension with Chelsea, extending his contract until 2033. Jackson won the Premier League Goal of the Month award for October 2024 for the opening goal of a 2–1 win over Newcastle United on 27 October.

## International career

Jackson represented Senegal at under-20 level, receiving his first call-up in November 2018.
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. 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.
In December 2023, Jackson was named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast. He came on as a substitute in all four games as the defending champions made it to the last 16.
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.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 3 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | 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 | 2 | 27 | 7 |
| Villarreal | 2021–22 | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Villarreal | 2022–23 | La Liga | 26 | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 13 |
| Villarreal | Total | Total | 35 | 12 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 1 | — | — | 48 | 13 |
| Chelsea | 2023–24 | Premier League | 35 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 44 | 17 |
| Chelsea | 2024–25 | Premier League | 23 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 9 |
| Chelsea | Total | Total | 58 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 26 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 135 | 41 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 160 | 47 |
* ↑ Includes Copa del Rey, FA Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup
* ↑ Appearances in Primera Federación promotion play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Appearance in UEFA Conference League

### International

    As of match played 14 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Senegal | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Senegal | 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| Senegal | 2024 | 13 | 1 |
| Total | 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 | |

## Honours

Chelsea
* EFL Cup runner-up: 2023–24
Individual
* La Liga Player of the Month: May 2023
* Premier League Goal of the Month: October 2024
* BBC Goal of the Month: October 2024