Aston Villa are close to finalising a deal to sign striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea for up to £65m, a move that would clear the way for Ollie Watkins to be sold.
The clubs have reached broad agreement on the fee for the 25-year-old, with Chelsea set to receive around £47.5m up front and a further £17.5m in add-ons. Jackson still needs to agree personal terms, but talks are advanced, and he would be reunited with Unai Emery after their time together at Villarreal.
If completed, Jackson’s arrival is expected to trigger England forward Watkins’ transfer to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League for about £51m. Watkins, 30, joined Villa from Brentford in 2020 and has since become the club’s record Premier League scorer with 91 goals. Villa had been preparing for his sale but wanted a replacement in place first. He missed Sunday’s 4-0 loss at Brighton, with Emery saying it was for the player and his agent to explain.
Villa are also prepared to let Tammy Abraham join Ipswich Town on loan. The 28-year-old is content at Villa, but a temporary switch to Portman Road is poised to go ahead, with no option or obligation to buy expected.
Abraham’s prospective departure would come amid significant summer changes at Villa, who have already added record signing Johan Manzambi, midfielder Joao Gomes, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and defender Matteo Ruggeri. There has been heavy turnover too: should Watkins leave, he would be the fifth member of the XI that won the Europa League in May to move on. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have already departed, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is also expected to go. Chelsea are considering a move for the Argentine, who is now deemed surplus to requirements following Suzuki’s arrival from Parma.
Jackson joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £35m in 2023 and has scored 30 goals in 81 appearances. His most recent outing for the Blues was against Fluminense at the 2025 Club World Cup, and he also lifted the Europa Conference League with the club. He spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, scoring 11 times in 34 games and helping them win the Bundesliga. Chelsea earned a £14.3m loan fee, but an obligation to buy for £56.2m was not activated because he did not reach the threshold of 40 appearances of at least 45 minutes.