SNA off-season: Nicolas Jackson, the present and the future
Nicolas Jackson, Senegal's new goal-getter. The Chelsea striker embodies both the present and the future.
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His name is Nicolas Jackson. Before becoming the menace he is today, he first learned his trade in Senegal. Born on 20 June 2001 in Banjul, in The Gambia, he developed at Casa Sports, a club in the south of Senegal. Very early on, the youngster caught Villarreal's eye, and they brought him in at just 18. After a loan spell at Mirandés, Jackson returned to the Yellow Submarine to make his breakthrough.
From Casa Sports to the heights of English football
Under Unai Emery, Nicolas Jackson got his first taste of the very top level. After a warm-up season in 2021-2022, he then exploded at Villarreal. In 2022-2023 the Senegalese striker had a breakout campaign, with 13 goals and 5 assists in 36 games.
Chelsea were smitten and signed him in the summer of 2023. In his first season he did better than a certain Didier Drogba, scoring 17 goals plus 6 assists. The Ivorian had 16 goals in his first season. Chelsea, London and the whole of the Premier League were beginning to discover a diamond. This season, the Lion has already scored 9 goals and provided 5 assists in 23 appearances.
Read also: Villarreal - Casa Sports: seen from Senegal, the Nicolas Jackson affair gets people talking
The new Drogba
Quick and able to attack space, Nicolas Jackson can also link up with team-mates and play with his back to goal. These are traits that recall a certain Didier Drogba.
"Drogba is incredible. I hope (to become a Chelsea legend like Didier). By the grace of God. If you are like him, then you are a great, great football legend. No (I haven't spoken to him). I hope that one day, when we win the Premier League or the Champions League, that will be the case," he said.
A gem taken from The Gambia
Nicolas Jackson has been a Senegal international since 21 November 2022. To date, the 23-year-old forward has 14 caps. Though he struggled to find the target early on, the Londoner finally broke his duck on 11 October 2024 against Malawi, scoring his first goal for the national team. That confidence could finally allow him to become the number 9 Senegal have long been waiting for.
Born in Banjul, Nicolas Jackson could have played for The Gambia, but ultimately chose to represent Senegal, much to the delight of the Lions.