Footballer (born 2001)
Nicolas Jackson 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 Current team
Chelsea Number
15 2017–2018
Tilene 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
57
(23) 2018
Senegal U20
1
(0) 2022–
Senegal
19
(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:41, 25 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 November 2024
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 ,[ 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] 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 .[ 24] He scored again in the next match against Manchester City , which ended in a 4–4 home draw.[ 25]
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.[ 26] On 5 May 2024, Jackson scored twice and provided an assist for Palmer in a 5–0 home win over West Ham United .[ 27] 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 .[ 28]
On 13 September 2024, Jackson signed a two-year contract extension with Chelsea, extending his contract until 2033.[ 29] 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.[ 30] [ 31]
International career
Jackson represented Senegal at under-20 level ,[ 32] [ 33] receiving his first call-up in November 2018.[ 34]
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.[ 35] 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 .[ 36]
In December 2023, Jackson was named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast .[ 37] He came on as a substitute in all four games as the defending champions made it to the last 16.[ 38]
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 .[ 39]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 25 January 2025 [ 40]
International
As of match played 14 November 2024 [ 41]
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.
Honours
Chelsea
Individual
References
^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Senegal (SEN)" (PDF) . FIFA . 15 November 2022. p. 25. Retrieved 15 November 2022 .
^ "Nicolas Jackson" . Epic Sports. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020 .
^ "Nicolas Jackson" . Chelsea Football Club. Retrieved 10 November 2023 .
^ 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, [...]
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ Ceesay, Ebrima (3 September 2023). "NICHOLAS JACKSON: GAMBIA'S LOSS IS SENEGAL'S GAIN" . Alkamba Times. Retrieved 20 February 2024 .
^ "Nicholas Jackson: The rise from Casa Sport to Chelsea" . Sport News Africa. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023 .
^ "Nicolas Jackson" (in French). Ligue Sénégalaise de Football Professionnel. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2020 .
^ "Jackson on his journey from street footballer to Chelsea star" . Chelsea FC. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023 .
^ "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. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2020 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "Jackson will play on loan at Mirandés" . Villarreal CF. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "Baena and Jackson officially become first-team players" . Villarreal CF. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022 .
^ "Bournemouth's swoop for Southampton target Jackson fails after medical" . Southern Daily Echo . 27 January 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023 .
^ "Nicolas Jackson joins the Blues" . www.chelseafc.com . 30 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023 .
^ "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 .
^ "Chelsea 3–0 Luton Town: Raheem Sterling double helps Blues see off Hatters" . BBC. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023 .
^ "Chelsea beat nine-man Tottenham in chaotic epic" . BBC Sport . Retrieved 6 November 2023 .
^ "Chelsea 4–4 Manchester City: Cole Palmer hits late penalty to deny former club victory" . BBC Sport . 12 November 2023.
^ "Chelsea 6-0 Everton: Cole Palmer scores four including 16-minute hat-trick" . BBC Sport . 15 April 2024.
^ "Chelsea 5-0 West Ham: Nicolas Jackson nets brace as Blues cruise to big derby win" . The Standard . 5 May 2024.
^ "Top African Goal Scorers In Premier League 2023/2024" . African Folder . 25 May 2024.
^ Chelsea FC. "Nicolas Jackson signs contract extension!" . www.chelseafc.com . Retrieved 15 September 2024 .
^ "Chelsea 2–1 Newcastle: Cole Palmer scored his seventh goal of the season as Chelsea beat Newcastle to continue their impressive start" . BBC Sports . BBC . 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2025 .
^ "Jackson wins Guinness Goal of the Month award for October 2024" . Premier League . 8 November 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2025 .
^ "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. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2020 .
^ "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. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2020 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "Afcon 2023: Senegal and Sadio Mane set for defence of title" . BBC Sport Africa . 29 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024 .
^ Mtuta, Lukhanyo (30 January 2024). "5 top stars who've flopped at AFCON 2023" . Kick Off . Retrieved 26 October 2024 .
^ "Jackson breaks duck as Senegal runs riot" . beIN Sports. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024 .
^ "Nicolas Jackson" . Soccerbase . Retrieved 25 August 2024 .
^ "Nicolas Jackson" . National Football Teams . Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 June 2023 .
^ "Internationals: Jackson and Mudryk on target in wins" . Chelsea FC .
^ McNulty, Phil (25 February 2024). "Carabao Cup final: Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool (aet)" . BBC Sport . Retrieved 26 February 2024 .
^ "Nicolas Jackson named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for May" . La Liga. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023 .
^ "Jackson wins Guinness Goal of the Month award" . Premier League. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024 .
^ "Vote for your Premier League goal of the month" . BBC Sport . 30 October 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024 .
External links