CHELSEA FORWARD NICOLAS JACKSON SIGNS EXTENSION UNTIL JUNE 2033
Only one year after signing from Spanish side Villarreal, Chelsea Football Club forward Nicolas Jackson has re-committed his future to the club by signing a new two-year extension, which is set to keep him in West London until June 2033, the team announced on Friday.
Jackson has been one of the main attacking threats of the club over the past 12 months and now is rewarded with a new deal that could very much see him retire as a Blue. Jackson scored 14 goals and provided 5 assists for Chelsea last season, guiding a rebuilding Mauricio Pochettino side to sixth-place in the Premier League standings. The Senegalese striker is the second Chelsea player to be extended under the new Todd Boehly ownership following England star forward Cole Palmer who signed his new deal in June.
“I am feeling very good and I’m very happy to sign a new contract and [to] stay at the club,” said Jackson after Friday’s announcement. “It feels great [that] the club has confidence in me. I am working very hard. I am very happy to extend my contract and stay here for many years.”
Jackson scored 17 goals across all competitions in his first season with Chelsea last year and told the club’s website he wasn’t satisfied by his debut season.
“The first season for any player or any striker that comes to Chelsea is not easy, but I did okay,” says the 23-year-old striker. “I am not very happy with 17 goals because I played the whole season without injuries, but it’s okay. I did good, now I hope to continue and do amazing. I am still in the learning process, learning every day, and trying to improve what I can do, and work on what I cannot do.”
A quick, strong attacker with a poacher’s mindset, Jackson is proving himself to be one of the best forwards in the league, having already registered three goal contributions – two goals and an assist – through his first three games this year. While he’s great at putting the ball in the back of the net and holding up play, the Djibonker-born forward also has a knack for providing assists and creating chances for his teammates.
Asked about his history as a forward and his development playing striker, Jackson said: “I was always an offensive player. When I was young, I was a number 10 or a false nine, because I move and drop deep. When I came to Europe, Unai [Emery, Jackson’s coach at Villarreal] changed that and put me as a fixed number nine, waiting for the ball and playing more in the box, trying to run in behind. Unai changed all that, and I’m grateful. I try to work harder to improve every day in that position.”
A main-stay on the Chelsea starting lineup so far this season, Jackson is expected to be a key part of the club’s attacking core, which boasts international superstars like France’s Christopher Nkunku, Portugal’s Joao Felix, England’s Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer, Spain’s Marc Guiu, and Brazil’s Deivid Washington.
“I want to win trophies, to make Chelsea the best,” said Jackson. “Put the team back to where it was, and to win individual trophies as well, to help my club and country. I am trying to work hard for that aim, but the most important [thing] is the team, and I hope with the team we will win many trophies together. These are the happy moments you can tell your family about. That’s the aim.”
Chelsea currently sit 11th on the Premier League table after managing only one win and a draw from their first three matches of the domestic season, and are looking to bounce back following last week’s international break. The Blues travel down to Bournemouth on Saturday to play the Cherries at 8pm BST or 3pm EST.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: CFC unofficial. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.