Nicolas Jackson’s career was at a crossroads. Aston Villa were in a state of flux. The move was mutually beneficial – but the early success has exceeded expectations.
His double to beat Manchester City and Enzo Maresca, the manager who sanctioned his exit from Chelsea in 2025, marked a full-circle moment. Jackson is not just recapturing his finest form, he is reaching new levels in his second stint with Unai Emery.
The connection between the two stretches back to their time at Villarreal. A bridge that was never burned and a partnership that always seemed likely to be reignited further down the line.
“Unai taught me everything about football,” Jackson told Sky Sports in 2025. And with Emery guiding him once more, it seems as if class is back in session.
Sky Sports dives into Jackson’s fast start in claret and blue ahead of another chance to impress when Villa host Fulham, live on Saturday Night Football.
Saturday 31st October 7:45pm
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Emery brings the best out of Jackson
A common theme during his time at Chelsea was frustrating form in front of goal. Across his two seasons at Stamford Bridge, Jackson converted only 18 of his 61 big chances (29 per cent).
So far for Villa, he has converted three of five (60 per cent), the caveat being it is only a small sample size. But his improvement stretches beyond that.
The 25-year-old has scored four goals in the Premier League from an expected goals (xG) value of just 1.98. Erling Haaland is the only striker overperforming by a greater margin, scoring nine goals from 6xG.
Jackson is taking the same amount of shots, around three a game, but his conversion rate has also skyrocketed from just 13.2 per cent in his final season at Chelsea to 21 per cent in 2026/27 so far.
The only time he exceeded that figure in the last five seasons was 29.3 per cent in 2022/23, his last season with Emery before the manager left for Villa.
Why Jackson is thriving
The answer is a combination of things. After being named as the heir to Ollie Watkins’ throne up front, with Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo there to offer support, Jackson can take comfort from the knowledge that he is the focal point of the attack.
This, coupled with the freedom to roam across positions and the guidance of Emery, allows breathing room for a striker now away from the limelight and scrutiny that often comes with playing for Chelsea.
Villa struggled at the start of the season and failed to score until September 8, although Jackson’s performances were positive.
In the same game that John McGinn broke that deadlock, a 3-2 win against Club Brugge, Jackson netted his first for the club. Neither he nor the team have looked back since.
Options and support around him have helped, too. In Johan Manzambi, Emi Buendia, McGinn, Senegal team-mate Ibrahim Mbaye and others, Jackson has both passers and receivers should he choose to venture forward or drift out wide.
“When I was from Senegal, I knew how to play but I did not understand how to run on the pitch,” Jackson said in that interview last year. “I was just running like crazy, taking the ball and just dribbling, making my own stuff. [Emery] changed all that and made me into a different kind of player.
“Before, I was not playing like this, I was more of a kid. He trained me for six months and he left. He helped me a lot in the gym and tried to help me with my body.
“All of them (coaches) are amazing, but Unai is a big key to my football now.”
Nicolas Jackson talks to Unai Emery on the sidelines during the 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest
That movement and growth continues to be fine-tuned by the Villa boss. Jackson currently ranks first amongst centre forwards in the league for dribbles completed (2.5) and runs ahead of the ball per game (7.7).
Now it is the demands of Emery, and Jackson’s determination to prove a point in the Premier League, that will determine whether he can sustain – or build on – this form.
“We worked during the one year on his skill, he improved his understanding better,” Emery said when Jackson signed for Villa. “Now he could exploit his potential.”
“I will bring my spirit. Fighting for the badge, fighting for the coach, as I always do,” was how Jackson responded in his first interview with his new club.
Emery demands a lot. Jackson is a player with a proven track record of meeting those lofty expectations.
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James Savundra and Mark Briggs explain on the Sky Sports FPL Podcast why FPL managers should consider bringing Nicolas Jackson into their teams following his recent goalscoring form
Will Chelsea regret selling Jackson?
The argument could have been made before the latest round of fixtures but it is a statement that is particularly pertinent given Chelsea’s dismal loss to Tottenham.
Joao Pedro was sidelined with an injury and Chelsea played 78 minutes without a recognised striker. By the time the game had kicked off, Jackson had already scored twice to beat Man City.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester City
During his time in west London, Jackson reached double figures in both campaigns in the top flight but the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, who has since left to join Nottingham Forest, created a surplus of strikers.
The loan move to Bayern Munich was a similar story. Newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane was always going to claim that spot, and the arrivals of Danny Welbeck and Emanuel Emegha at Chelsea left little room for a resurgence in blue.
So an exit seemed like the only option. Atletico Madrid were also interested in signing him in the summer but were unable to meet the financial demands of a potential deal.
Jackson made the move to reunite with Emery, and the total package for that deal could reach a club-record fee of £65m.
Villa took the chance on a player who had shown promise in the Premier League but had not reached his full potential.
Watkins’ exit, leaving big shoes to fill as he departed as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League, added to that risk. But Jackson is already proving he can rise to the challenge.
He has now scored seven goals in his last nine appearances across all competitions, and while he looks forward to another chance to impress, Chelsea are the ones left looking back as they navigate the striker crisis at the club.
Jackson, still only 25, has found the perfect place to thrive and there is plenty more to come.
Watch Aston Villa vs Fulham live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League this Saturday, kick-off 8pm.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
