Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign striker Nicolas Jackson in a deal worth up to £65 million, matching the London club's asking price for the Senegalese forward.

The Blues had made it clear throughout the summer that Jackson and Liam Delap were available for transfer, and Villa have now moved to secure one of them. Atletico Madrid were also in the race for Jackson, but are unlikely to match the financial package Villa have put on the table.

A reunion with Emery

Jackson's move to Villa Park carries a personal dimension — he previously worked under Villa manager Unai Emery during their time together at Villarreal, giving the 23-year-old a familiar touchstone as he makes the switch.

The striker joined Chelsea from Villarreal in 2023 and spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga champions had an obligation-to-buy clause in the loan agreement, valued at £56.25 million, but Jackson failed to accumulate the number of appearances needed to trigger the option, leaving him to return to Stamford Bridge.

Potential Watkins replacement

Jackson is expected to fill the void should Ollie Watkins depart Villa Park. The England international is in discussions over a move to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, and while Watkins is reportedly keen on the switch, Villa have already knocked back at least one bid from the Saudi side.

Villa are reluctant to lose Watkins, but Al Hilal continue to press and negotiations between the clubs remain ongoing. Should the England striker leave, Jackson would step in as the focal point of Emery's attack.