If you look at all Chelsea’s signings in 2023, you certainly won’t put Nicolas Jackson among the top 5, maybe not even among the top 10 (they brought in 16 players) and yet the Blues decided to bring the promising Senegalese from Villarreal in order to bolster the attacking position. Just like his other offensive teammates, Jackson is not a classic 9, but owner Todd Boehly doesn’t seem to mind. He shelled out 37 million euros for the Senegalese international and gave him a usual eight-year deal in order to avoid FFP rules. And Jackson comes into the club already rich with African roots. ‘We Africans are no worse off than the other footballers’From the streets of Senegal to the Stamford Bridge pitch, it’s a dream come true for the 22-year-old forward, who used to play watch the Blues on TV, and now he has joined them. “I wanted to join a big team and Chelsea is one of the best teams in the world, plus I’ve watched them since I was young. I watched Demba Ba, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka was good too, big players. So I always dreamed of playing for a team like this. When Chelsea came there was no question in my mind. I always had this kind of team in my mind. I talked to my family and my agent and I have icons who played here – Drogba and Ba, big strikers. So when Chelsea came my heart said the answer should be yes and I decided to follow it and come here. I remember the Champions League final in 2012 and especially when Drogba scored that header right at the end. I watched those players for Chelsea when I was growing up so I decided to follow in their footsteps. Hopefully that’s what continues to happen now I’m here“ said Jackson in his first interview for Chelsea’s website. Loftus-Cheek out, Jackson in – a 15 million euros surplus for Chelsea in one dayEven before signing with Chelsea, the former Villarreal striker made sure to get some tips about the club and the Premier League in general. It’s amazing to have this feeling. I watched English football when I was in Africa and now I am here, so it’s a good feeling for me. I grew up watching the Premier League because for me it is the best league in the world, so I love the Premier League and I know a lot about it and Chelsea. I met Demba when I went to Senegal with the national team and wanted to ask him about Chelsea when I saw him during the last international break, but I couldn’t because there were too many people around. So I decided to wait and text him about it once I have signed for Chelsea and send him the shirt I wore for my signing too. I spoke to my agent Diomansy Kamara about the Premier League as well, because he played in England for a few teams, including Fulham, so he knows the league and this area. He told me everything about playing here so I know a lot about it“ said Jackson.🗣️ New Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson says he talked to Sadio Mane about Mauricio Pochettino before joining. “I spoke to Sadio about him and he spoke very highly of him, he said amazing things about him… pic.twitter.com/OWnzROTKR9— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 1, 2023 The Senegalese used the opportunity to inquire more about Maurizio Pochettino while on international duty with Sadio Mane, who used to play for the Argentinian while both men were under contract at Southampton. “I spoke to Sadio Mane about Pochettino and he spoke very highly of him, he said amazing things about him. Sadio told me the manager is going to help me a lot to improve and do well if I listen to what he has to tell me, so that is exactly what I’m going to do“ said the striker. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7347256##
