Chelsea’s decision to sell Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa has come under fresh scrutiny after the striker scored twice in his new club’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City.

According to a report by The Athletic on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Jackson’s performance has raised questions about whether Chelsea were right to let him leave, especially with Joao Pedro currently out injured.

However, there are three reasons why the transfer could still benefit Chelsea under manager Xabi Alonso.

The first is Pedro’s role in the team. When fully fit, the Brazilian is expected to lead Chelsea’s attack, which could have left Jackson competing for regular playing time.

Both strikers can drop deep and link up with teammates, but Pedro has shown greater efficiency in front of goal. During Jackson’s best season at Chelsea, he scored 14 Premier League goals in 2,810 minutes.

Pedro scored one more league goal last season despite playing 136 fewer minutes. This suggests he was more productive in the time available to him.

Keeping Jackson as a backup could therefore have caused frustration for the Senegal international and created unnecessary tension within the squad.

The second reason is the financial benefit of the sale.

Chelsea reportedly signed Jackson for around £30 million in 2024 before selling him to Aston Villa for approximately £65 million.

The transfer allowed the club to make a significant profit, giving them more money to strengthen other areas of the squad.

Chelsea have also faced financial challenges, including the lack of a front-of-shirt sponsor during the summer. As a result, selling players for substantial fees remains an important part of the club’s transfer strategy.

The third reason concerns Jackson’s finishing ability.

Although the striker has shown quality in his movement, hold-up play and link up contributions, his record in front of goal has raised questions about his ability to become an elite goalscorer.

According to Understat, Jackson scored 14 Premier League goals in his debut season despite recording an expected goals figure of 19.86. In the following campaign, he scored 10 goals from an expected goals total of 13.83.

These figures suggest that Jackson failed to convert several clear opportunities during his time at Chelsea.

While his recent performance against Manchester City highlights his ability, Chelsea may believe that selling him was a sensible decision based on their attacking plans, financial needs and expectations for greater efficiency in front of goal.