Villa close to £65m move for Chelsea's Jackson

Nicolas Jackson has eight goals in 37 caps for Senegal and played at the World Cup in the summer [Getty Images] Aston Villa are close to an agreement to sign striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £65m. There is a broad agreement between the clubs over the terms of a move for the 25-year-old, with Chelsea set to achieve their asking price with an initial sum of £47.5m with £17.5m in add-ons. And if the Senegal international agrees personal terms and completes the switch to Villa his arrival is likely to trigger England international Ollie Watkins' move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. The deal remains subject to personal terms being agreed, but negotiations are at an advanced stage, with Jackson expected to reunite with Unai Emery having played under the Villa boss at Spanish club Villarreal. Jackson, who played under Villa boss Unai Emery at Spanish club Villarreal, would become the latest player in Villa's summer rebuild following the arrivals of record buy Johan Manzambi, midfielder Joao Gomes, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and defender Matteo Ruggeri. However, there has also been significant movement out of the club and Watkins leaving would means they had sold five of the starting XI who won the Europa League in May. Morgan Rogers , Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have already left with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez expected to depart too. Chelsea are weighing up a move for the Argentine, who is now deemed surplus to requirements after Suzuki joined from Parma. In signing Jackson, Villa would be getting a forward who joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £35m in 2023 and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances. His most recent appearance for the Blues came against Fluminense in the Club World Cup in 2025, while he also won the Europa Conference League with the club. He spent last season on loan to Bayern Munich, netting 11 times in 34 games helping Bayern win the Bundesliga. Chelsea banked a £14.3m loan fee from the move, though an obligation to buy for £56.2m was not triggered after Jackson failed to make 40 appearances of 45 minutes or more. Jackson leaving would follow on from the departure of Liam Delap, who has also left Stamford Bridge after just one season, joining Nottingham Forest in a £50m deal. Meanwhile, the club have also been holding talks with Atalanta's Honest Ahanor, 18, over a potential move to Stamford Bridge. The defender is valued at £34.3m by the Italian club.