Chelsea forced to admit Nicolas Jackson transfer mistake

Cameron Smith

• 30 Oct 2025 12:35 GMT
• 5 min read

News

After finalising the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer, the Chelsea hierarchy made the decision that Nicolas Jackson was no longer required at the club.

The Senegal international had been Chelsea’s starting striker for two seasons, following his move from Villarreal in 2023, and he had shown glimpses of real promise throughout his tenure at Stamford Bridge.

Current ETV

Nicolas Jackson

F (C)

Bayern Munich

Nicolas Jackson

F (C)

Bayern Munich

€54.4M

ETV Range

€48.9M - €59.8M

View full profile

The club even agreed a contract extension with the 24-year-old in September 2024, after a promising debut campaign, however they decided to push him to the exit door this summer.

Rumours of a move to Aston Villa, Manchester United and Newcastle United all failed to come to fruition before Bayern Munich reached an agreement to sign Jackson on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy.

The transfer will only automatically become permanent if Jackson makes 40 starts across all competitions this season, but reports have suggested that Bayern are already keen to hand the Chelsea star a long-term contract when his loan spell ends.

One reason behind Chelsea’s decision to offload Jackson is believed to be his disciplinary record. He accumulated 17 yellow cards across his two seasons in the Premier League, while he was sent off on two occasions in just four games during the final stretch of last campaign (against Newcastle and Flamengo).

The arrivals of Pedro and Delap, as well as his own poor finishing, were also key contributing factors behind Jackson’s exit, although Chelsea will no doubt be regretting their decision to sanction a departure.

Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson error

Pedro looked as though he had the tools to become Chelsea’s starting striker following his exploits at the Club World Cup and his electric start to the 2025-26 season, but he is now without a goal in his last eight appearances for the Blues.

The Brazilian has struggled when deployed as a focal point against a low block and it’s clear that he is better suited to playing in a deeper role.

That leaves Delap and Marc Guiu as the only out-and-out strikers in Chelsea’s squad.

The former was incredibly impressive at Ipswich Town last season, but his 2025-26 campaign has been a disaster. He suffered a hamstring injury against Fulham in late August and he was sent off just 25 minutes into his return versus Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday.

Delap received 12 yellow cards in the Premier League last term and his ill-discipline very nearly cost Chelsea in midweek. Maresca has already criticised the Englishman for his “embarrassing” red card and he will now miss their trip to Tottenham on Saturday.

As for Guiu, he has displayed promise during his time at the club, but he is still only 19 years old and Chelsea opted to send the Spaniard on loan to Sunderland in August, in order to bolster his development, before recalling him on Transfer Deadline Day.

With Pedro best in a deeper position, Delap suffering a nightmare start since his arrival and Guiu not yet ready for a substantial first-team role, it appears as though Chelsea made a grave error by allowing Jackson to join Bayern.

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