15 Nicolas Jackson

Nicolas Jackson was born on June 20, 2001, in Banjul, The Gambia, to a Gambian father and a Senegalese mother. In 2017, following political changes in The Gambia, his family relocated to Ziguinchor, Senegal. It was there that Jackson honed his football skills before launching his professional career.

Early Career at Casa Sports

Jackson began his football journey with local side ASC Tilene before joining Casa Sports in Senegal. He became part of the first team during the 2018–19 season and was named Man of the Match in a Ligue 1 draw against AS Pikine on November 16, 2018.

In September 2019, Jackson secured a move to Spanish La Liga side Villarreal, initially joining the club’s Juvenil A squad. On October 5, 2020, he was loaned to Segunda División side Mirandés for the 2020–21 season. He made his professional debut on October 18, 2020, in a goalless draw against Mallorca and scored his first professional goal on November 28 in a 1–1 draw against Castellón. Despite Mirandés finishing 10th, Jackson only managed one goal that season.

Breakthrough at Villarreal

Upon returning to Villarreal, Jackson played for the club’s B-team, scoring seven goals and helping them achieve promotion to the Segunda División. He made his first-team and La Liga debut on October 3, 2021, in a 2–0 victory over Real Betis.

Jackson’s first top-flight goal came on August 13, 2022, in a 3–0 win over Real Valladolid. By January 2023, AFC Bournemouth had agreed to sign Jackson for £22.5 million, but the transfer collapsed due to medical concerns over a hamstring injury. However, he returned to action in March and enjoyed a prolific run, scoring nine goals in April and May, including braces against Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao, and Cádiz.

On June 30, 2023, Jackson joined Chelsea on an eight-year contract for a reported £32 million fee. His debut came on August 13, 2023, in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool. He opened his Chelsea goal tally on August 25, netting in a 3–0 win over Luton Town.

One of his standout performances came on November 6, 2023, when he scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur. He followed this up with a crucial goal in Chelsea’s 4–4 draw against Manchester City.

During the 2023–24 season, Jackson reached double-digit Premier League goals, notably scoring in Chelsea’s 6–0 thrashing of Everton on April 15, 2024, and netting twice in a 5–0 win over West Ham on May 5, 2024. With 14 league goals, he became the second-highest African goalscorer in the league that season, behind Mohamed Salah.

On September 13, 2024, Chelsea extended Jackson’s contract until 2033. The following month, he won the Premier League Goal of the Month award for his strike against Newcastle United on October 27.

Youth and Senior Debut

Jackson began his international journey with Senegal’s U20 team, receiving his first call-up in November 2018. In September 2022, he was called up to the senior squad by Aliou Cissé and was subsequently named in Senegal’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He made his full international debut in Senegal’s opening match, a 2–0 loss to the Netherlands.

Jackson was included in Senegal’s squad for the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, held in early 2024 in the Ivory Coast. He featured as a substitute in all four matches before Senegal exited in the Round of 16.

On October 11, 2024, Jackson scored his first international goal in a 4–0 victory over Malawi during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.