Nico Jackson thrives under Emery at Aston Villa: 5 goals in 9 games

Nico Jackson has found his smile again. The Senegalese striker, who never quite hit his stride at Chelsea, is enjoying a strong start at Aston Villa under Unai Emery: five goals in his first nine official matches and a level of comfort on the pitch that recalls his best days at Villarreal. The club's investment of €55.5 million, its third-most expensive signing ever, is already beginning to pay off.

• Nico Jackson has five goals in his first nine appearances for Aston Villa.
• The striker is the team's top scorer so far this season, responsible for 25% of Villa's goals.
• Unai Emery played a key role in Jackson's decision to join Villa after an inconsistent spell at Chelsea.
• Jackson has the highest recorded top speed in the Premier League this season at 37.1 km/h.
• Aston Villa paid €55.5 million for the forward, the third-most expensive transfer in club history.

Nico Jackson's revival under Unai Emery

Nico Jackson and Unai Emery go way back. The Basque coach gave him the chance to break into professional football when the young forward arrived from Senegal to Villarreal's academy in 2019 for €1 million. After a loan spell at Mirandes, Jackson exploded into the first team: 13 goals and six assists in 48 games caught the attention of Chelsea, who paid €37 million for him, the fourth-largest sale in Villarreal's history.

When he called me and I spoke with him, he explained the project and I really liked it. Hopefully we can do many things here together.

But his time in London never took off the way many expected. Despite flashes of talent, Jackson failed to establish himself at Stamford Bridge. A later loan move to Bayern Munich also fell short of expectations, as the German giants decided not to make the deal permanent. With that backdrop, the striker knew he needed a fresh start this summer. Atletico Madrid entered negotiations, but it was Emery's phone call that made the difference.

How Nico Jackson fits into Emery's new Aston Villa system

Aston Villa faced a mandatory rebuild last summer after several key departures. The start of the season was uneven, but the new signings are gradually settling in. Among them, Nico Jackson has become the team's main attacking reference following Ollie Watkins' move to Saudi Arabia. Emery wanted the Senegalese as his natural replacement, and the numbers are backing that decision.

Jackson has started eight of the nine games he has played so far. His five goals account for a quarter of the team's total output in these early weeks of the campaign. He opened his account against Club Brugge in the Champions League and has not stopped adding since. His brace against Fenerbahçe confirmed he has recovered the killer instinct he showed at Villarreal.

A striker built for Emery's reactive style of play

Beyond the goals, what stands out most about Nico Jackson's performances is how comfortable he looks inside Emery's system. The Hondarribia-born coach favours a reactive brand of football that creates space to attack, and that is exactly the setup in which the Senegalese international feels most at home. Since his early days at Villarreal, Jackson always performed better when he could use his mobility across the front line and exploit his pace in behind than when asked to pose a threat inside the box.

The Premier League numbers confirm it. Nico Jackson is the league's fastest forward this season, with a top speed of 37.1 km/h, and he ranks third for average sprints per match with 15.8. He also leads the league in opponents beaten with the ball at his feet, averaging 2.51 per game, and sits second for completed dribbles with 3.41. Those figures show his influence goes far beyond just scoring goals.

The Champions League as the stage for his resurgence

In this season's Champions League, the Senegalese striker already has three goals to his name. His impact in the competition has been immediate, and the early signs suggest he will keep adding to his tally in the coming European rounds. Emery made no secret of his satisfaction after the heavy win over Fenerbahçe, in which Jackson scored twice: "He is doing a fantastic job. He scores, works defensively and helps the team."

The next challenge for Aston Villa and for Jackson is to maintain that consistency in both the Premier League and the Champions League. The Birmingham club wants to establish itself among the contenders for European places, and for that it needs its star striker to stay hot. So far, the gamble could not be going better.

What to expect from Nico Jackson in the coming months

The upcoming schedule will test Aston Villa's ability to sustain its competitive level. With Nico Jackson in top form, the team's room for improvement grows considerably. His understanding with his teammates is getting better with every training session, and he is already seen as a key piece of Emery's starting eleven. If he keeps up his scoring rate and overall influence, Aston Villa will have every chance of fighting for ambitious targets.

The general feeling is that Jackson has finally found the right environment to thrive. His speed, mobility and defensive work rate fit perfectly with what Emery demands. The striker who arrived from Senegal without fully understanding movement on the pitch is now one of the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League.