Nicolas Jackson: the rising star of Senegalese football who dares to take risks.
Nicolas Jackson, born in Gambia in June 2001, is a player who is currently making a big splash in the world of football. This young Senegalese striker, born in Gambia in 2001, has managed to make his way to the top thanks to his exceptional talent and determination. From his humble beginnings at Casa Sports, a club in the south of Senegal, to his imminent signing for Chelsea despite interest from big-name clubs such as Leipzig, Jackson’s rise has been nothing short of a fairytale. “Nicolas comes from the Aku tribe, a small people who make up just 1% of the Gambian population. He was educated at Glory Baptist High School in Banjul and is very good at football, taking part in grassroots tournaments at the school,” according to Roberts, a Gambian friend whom I contacted on WhatsApp.
After starting his career at Casa Sports, a Senegalese club renowned for its commitment to developing young talent, Jackson quickly caught the eye of scouts thanks to his outstanding performances on the pitch.
Now he is preparing to take on a new challenge by joining Chelsea, although he has been courted by a number of other clubs, including Leipzig, after a season in La Liga in which he scored 12 goals and provided four assists with a sparkling second half to the season.
Casa Sports, where it all began 🇸🇳
Jackson’s career has been marked by determination and perseverance. From an early age, he showed exceptional talent for football. Nicolas Jackson was spotted by Casa Sports, a club based in Ziguinchor, in the south of Senegal. It was there that he began to develop his talent and catch the eye of football observers. At Casa Sports, Nicolas Jackson quickly showed his potential. His explosive style of play and ability to score goals made him one of the country’s most promising strikers. His agility, technique and vision captivated the public and earned him much praise. He also represented Senegal’s youth and senior national teams, where he continued to impress with his outstanding performances.
An eventful passage through Spain 🇪🇸
Having joined Villarreal in the summer of 2019, where he initially joined the club’s reserve team, Nicolas Jackson went on loan to Mirandés for one season in 2020. He played his first professional match for the club on 18 October, against Mallorca in the league. On 28 November 2020, Jackson scored his first professional goal in a league match against Castellón.
In 2021 Nicolas Jackson made his return to Villarreal after his loan spell at Mirandés and managed to convince Unai Emery during the preparatory matches for the 2022 season, where the Senegalese striker proved decisive with 1 goal and 2 assists.
Unaï Emery then saw him as a potential replacement for Boulaye Dia, who was loaned out to Salernitana, leaving his place to Nicolas Jackson, who took over in attack and did so brilliantly.
Jackson made his debut on the opening day of the 2022–2023 La Liga season against Real Valladolid on 13 August 2022, scoring his first goal for Villarreal when he opened the scoring.
In the second half of the La Liga season, under Quique Setién, Jackson really came into his own. His remarkable performances made him one of the best strikers in the Spanish league. With 12 goals scored and 4 assists in La Liga, he made a significant contribution to Villarreal’s success, rapidly gaining in maturity and experience, and his remarkable performances attracted the attention of Europe’s top clubs. Among them, Chelsea have shown a particular interest in the young Senegalese striker. Despite the fierce competition, Chelsea are close to concluding a deal to sign Jackson, which would be a huge coup for the player and recognition of his exceptional talent.
Choosing Chelsea over RB Leipzig 🏴
Leipzig, known for its policy of developing young talent, showed a strong interest in Jackson. The German club recognised in him a promising player with exceptional potential. However, against all expectations, Jackson decided to join Chelsea, an English club with a reputation but often criticised for its poor management of talented young strikers, such as Mykhaylo Mudryk, Armando Broja, David Datro Fofana and Noni Madueke. This choice has sparked debate among football observers. Some have questioned Chelsea’s ability to offer Jackson the opportunities he needs to continue his progression. However, the choice of joining Chelsea rather than clubs renowned for their youth policy, such as Leipzig, demonstrates Nicolas Jackson’s ambition and confidence in his own abilities. If the transfer goes ahead, Jackson will have the opportunity to progress alongside some of the best players in the world and continue to build his reputation as a future Premier League striker, a league he could have joined last January had his move to Bournemouth not fallen through at the last minute due to physical concerns.
#Sports #Football #PremierLeague #Transfers #Chelsea
👤 Mbaye Dia
📩 mbayedia341@gmail.com