Looking at Nicolas Jackson in comparison with Liam Delap, serious questions continue to surround Jackson’s career decisions, particularly his move away from Chelsea.
Jackson pushed hard for a departure, with his agent making it clear he did not want to remain at Chelsea. That stance led to his loan move to Bayern Munich on 1 September 2025 for a reported fee of €16.5 million. However, instead of elevating his profile, the move has seen attention around Jackson fade significantly.
At Bayern, Jackson finds himself behind Harry Kane a striker who will start regardless of form or opposition. As a result, Bayern do not appear eager to sign Jackson permanently, and his role has been reduced to that of a clear number two. Conversations around Jackson have largely died down, both in Germany and across Europe.
Softfootball questions why Jackson did not choose a club where he would be the undisputed number one striker. Remaining at Chelsea could have offered a clearer path to regular football. Even with João Pedro likely ahead in the pecking order, Jackson would have had opportunities, especially with squad rotation. He could also have realistically challenged and possibly benched Liam Delap when competition intensified.
Instead of moving to a club with less-established strikers such as Everton or another Premier League side Jackson opted for a move that has kept him largely on the bench. That decision has indirectly made Delap appear like the bigger presence at Chelsea, simply because Jackson is no longer competing there.
In hindsight, staying at Chelsea to fight for his place may have provided Jackson with more minutes, more visibility and a stronger platform to prove his quality than sitting behind one of the world’s best strikers at Bayern Munich.
