Chelsea's decision to allow Nicolas Jackson to leave Stamford Bridge is attracting fresh criticism following the striker's impressive performances for Aston Villa. The Senegalese international has recently rediscovered his scoring ability, raising questions about whether the London club made the right decision by selling him.

According to FootballTransfers in a report published on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Jackson has scored eight goals within the last two months. His recent contributions include two goals against Manchester City and another strike against Fulham. Five of his goals have come in the Premier League, where only Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak have recorded higher totals during the period under consideration.

Aston Villa secured his services from Chelsea during the summer transfer window for an initial €55 million, with additional payments potentially increasing the transfer fee to €76 million. Chelsea had also collected €16.5 million from Bayern Munich for Jackson's loan spell in the previous season.

Despite the financial benefits of the transaction, his current form has raised doubts about Chelsea's decision. Manager Enzo Maresca reportedly became concerned about the striker's inconsistent finishing and disciplinary record, eventually considering him unnecessary for the squad.

However, Jackson's overall qualities had previously attracted positive assessments from football analysts. His pace, movement, physical strength and ability to operate as a centre-forward were considered valuable attributes.

His improvement at Villa is particularly interesting because of his previous relationship with manager Unai Emery. The Spanish coach played an important role in his development at Villarreal before Chelsea signed him in 2023.

Former Villarreal reserve-team coach Miguel Alvarez also spoke positively about Jackson's abilities during an interview with Mundo Deportivo. He explained that the striker demonstrated exceptional potential from an early age but initially experienced difficulties following injuries and an unsuccessful loan spell at Mirandés.

Alvarez recalled that moving Jackson from the wing into a central attacking position helped him become more effective. He added that the forward's finishing, technical ability and understanding of attacking movements have improved with experience.

Jackson's impressive performances at Aston Villa suggest that he may be approaching his best form. Although Chelsea benefited financially from his departure, his recent progress could leave the club questioning whether they allowed a talented striker to leave too early.