Chelsea sign Villarreal's Senegal forward Jackson

Nicolas Jackson was named La Liga player of the month in May after scoring nine goals for Villarreal in their final eight league games

Chelsea have signed Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson on an eight-year contract from Villarreal.

He is the Blues' second summer signing after the £52m deal for France striker Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig.

"He is a young player with big potential," said co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.

Jackson's late-season form, in what was a breakthrough campaign, earned him the La Liga player of the month award for May, helping Villarreal finish fifth in La Liga and qualify for the Europa League.

He also went to the World Cup with Senegal, making his debut against the Netherlands in the group stage, and was an unused substitute in their second-round defeat by England.

The striker added two further caps in June, claiming assists in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw against Benin and a 4-2 friendly win over Brazil in Lisbon, Portugal.

New manager Mauricio Pochettino is in the process of reshaping Chelsea's squad, with a number of high-profile departures having been completed over the past week - and more set to follow.

Germany forward Kai Havertz has joined Arsenal in a £65m deal, while Manchester City have signed Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic for an initial £25m.

Jackson's compatriots Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly have both joined Saudi clubs, while N'Golo Kante has agreed to sign for Saudi champions Al-Ittihad.

Winger Hakim Ziyech has also been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, and English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek completed a move to AC Milan on Friday.

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