Jackson regains form at Aston Villa after reunion with Emery
Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, who moved from Chelsea to Aston Villa, is converting chances far better in the Premier League. Under manager Unai Emery he has scored seven goals in his last nine appearances.
Aston Villa, the Birmingham-based club in England's Premier League, have benefited from the arrival of Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson from London club Chelsea. The 25-year-old is working again with manager Unai Emery, with whom he was together at Spain's Villarreal. Jackson scored twice to beat Manchester City, managed by Enzo Maresca, the former Chelsea head coach who sanctioned his exit in 2025. Villa host Fulham on Saturday.
Improved finishing
At Chelsea, over two seasons, Jackson converted 18 of 61 big chances (29 per cent). For Villa he has taken three of five, though the sample is small. In the Premier League he has four goals from an expected goals (xG) value of 1.98. Only Erling Haaland has outperformed his xG by more, with nine goals from 6 xG.
Jackson's shot volume is unchanged at about three per game, but his conversion rate has risen from 13.2 per cent in his final Chelsea season to 21 per cent this season. The only higher figure in the last five years was 29.3 per cent in 2022/23, his last season under Emery.
Reasons behind the form
Jackson has been named successor to Ollie Watkins, who left Villa as the club's all-time leading Premier League scorer. He has freedom to roam across positions and support from Tammy Abraham, Brian Madjo, Johan Manzambi, Emi Buendia, John McGinn and Senegal team-mate Ibrahim Mbaye. Villa started the season slowly and did not score until September 8, when Jackson netted his first goal for the club in a 3-2 win over Club Brugge.
He now ranks first among Premier League centre forwards for dribbles completed (2.5) and runs ahead of the ball per game (7.7). The total package for the transfer could reach a club-record £65m. Chelsea, meanwhile, lost to Tottenham and played 78 minutes without a recognised striker.
