Does Nicolas Jackson Deserve to Be Chelsea’s No. 9 Next Season?
In the high-stakes world of Premier League football, few positions carry as much weight as the No. 9, the talismanic striker tasked with leading the line and delivering goals. For Chelsea FC, a club with a storied history of iconic forwards like Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, the question of who should wear that coveted shirt is always a topic of fervent debate.
As the 2024/25 season nears its climax, one name dominates the conversation: Nicolas Jackson. Does Nicolas Jackson deserve to be Chelsea’s No. 9 next season? This question has polarized fans, pundits, and analysts alike, with opinions ranging from staunch support to outright skepticism. To answer it, we must dissect Jackson’s performance, his role under Enzo Maresca, and whether he possesses the qualities to cement himself as Chelsea’s long-term leading man.
Also Read: Does Enzo Maresca deserve a second season with Chelsea?
Considering His Current Form
Nicolas Jackson’s journey at Chelsea has been a rollercoaster of promise and frustration. The 23-year-old Senegalese striker, who joined from Villarreal in June 2023 for a reported £32 million, arrived with a reputation as a raw but explosive talent.
His early performances in the 2024/25 season suggested he could finally step out of the shadow of Chelsea’s past greats. Jackson started the campaign in scintillating form, scoring nine goals in his first 14 Premier League matches, a tally that placed him among the league’s top strikers.
His ability to combine pace, intelligent movement, and relentless pressing made him a perfect fit for Maresca’s high-intensity system. A standout moment came against Newcastle United on October 27, 2024, when he scored a stunning goal that won him the Premier League Goal of the Month award. His interplay with Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s creative linchpin, was particularly eye-catching, with the duo combining for 10 goals since the start of the 2023/24 season.
However, Jackson’s form took a nosedive after mid-December. A hamstring injury sidelined him for two months between February and April, disrupting his momentum. Since returning, he has struggled to rediscover his early-season spark. In his last 15 Premier League appearances, Jackson has managed just one goal, a fine low strike against Everton in April 2025.
This barren run has raised questions about his consistency and mental fortitude, especially in high-pressure moments. His red card against Newcastle on May 11, 2025, for a reckless elbow on Sven Botman, further compounded doubts about his temperament. The incident, which led to a suspension for Chelsea’s final two league games, left Maresca without a recognized striker at a crucial juncture, highlighting Jackson’s occasional lapses in discipline.
Lack of Goal Scoring
For a No. 9, goals are the currency of credibility, and Jackson’s output in this regard has been a mixed bag. In the 2023/24 season, his debut campaign, he scored 14 Premier League goals in 35 appearances, a respectable return for a young striker adapting to a new league. However, his expected goals (xG) of 18.7 suggested he was wasteful, converting only 17.5% of his chances. This inefficiency was starkly illustrated by his expected goals on target (xGOT) of 9.9, indicating that opposition goalkeepers often had the better of him.
Fast forward to the 2024/25 season, and Jackson’s finishing has shown signs of improvement, but not enough to silence critics. He has scored 10 goals in 30 Premier League matches, underperforming his xG of 11 and xGOT of 10.6. While these numbers suggest he’s been unlucky at times, they also underscore a persistent issue: his inability to consistently convert high-quality chances.
Jackson’s misses have been particularly glaring in key moments. Against Brentford, he blazed over from a cutback inside the six-yard box. A similar miss came against Bournemouth, where he failed to convert one of seven shots, marking the most attempts by a Chelsea player in a single game without scoring since Diego Costa in 2017. These moments fuel the narrative that Jackson lacks the clinical edge required of an elite No. 9.
Chelsea’s title-winning teams of the past often relied on strikers who could deliver 20-plus goals a season, a benchmark Jackson is far from reaching. With only 10 goals this season and a career total of 24 in 65 Premier League appearances, his output falls short of the standards set by the likes of Drogba or even Costa in his prime.
His Position
Under Maresca, Jackson’s role has evolved significantly. Unlike his debut season under Mauricio Pochettino, where he was often required to drop deep and contribute to buildup play, Maresca has positioned him as a focal point in a 4-2-3-1 formation. This tactical shift has seen Jackson averaging fewer touches (31.0 per 90 minutes compared to 36.7 last season) but more in the opposition penalty area (6.4 per 90 compared to 5.4).
This change has allowed him to focus on getting into scoring positions, evidenced by his non-penalty xG per 90 of 0.61, which ranks him fifth among Premier League players. His relentless runs in behind defenses create space for teammates like Palmer, who has created 17 chances for Jackson since the start of 2023/24.
Jackson’s off-ball work is equally vital. He leads Chelsea’s pressing, a role Maresca has praised repeatedly. Against Aston Villa in December 2024, Jackson’s pressure on goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez forced a mistake that nearly led to a goal. His work rate and ability to stretch defenses have made him a cornerstone of Maresca’s system, even when the goals aren’t flowing.
However, his positioning in the box remains a work in progress. Critics argue he lacks the instinctive “box presence” of a traditional No. 9, often failing to anticipate crosses or position himself for rebounds. This was evident in games like the 2-2 draw against Ipswich, where he missed a clear chance to seal the game.
Number of Goals He Scored This Season (2024/25)
Jackson’s 10 Premier League goals in the 2024/25 season tell only part of the story. Five of those came at home, and five away, showing a balanced contribution. His most prolific period was early in the season, with nine goals in 14 matches, including a hat-trick against Tottenham in November 2024.
However, his post-injury slump has seen him score just once in his last 15 appearances, a statistic that undermines his case as Chelsea’s leading man. While his 10 goals place him second in Chelsea’s squad behind Cole Palmer, they pale in comparison to the league’s top strikers like Erling Haaland (31 non-penalty goals since 2023/24) and Ollie Watkins (25).
Number of Assists
Jackson’s five assists in 30 Premier League matches this season highlight his growing influence beyond goalscoring. His partnership with Palmer has been particularly fruitful, with five of his assists coming for the England international. A notable example was against Manchester City, where Jackson capitalized on a defensive error to set up Noni Madueke in the opening seconds of a 3-1 defeat.
His ability to link play and create chances, averaging 0.6 goal involvements per 90 minutes adds a dimension to his game that compensates for his inconsistent finishing. Among strikers aged 23 or under in Europe’s top five leagues, Jackson leads in assists, per DataMB, showcasing his selfless play.
Number of Chances He Missed
Jackson’s profligacy in front of goal remains a sticking point. He has taken 50 shots in 30 matches this season, with 25 on target, giving him a shooting accuracy of 50%. However, his conversion rate of 15.3% is below the elite threshold. He scores a goal every 8.33 shots, a figure that lags behind top strikers like Haaland, who converts at a far higher rate.
High-profile misses, such as those against Brentford and Crystal Palace, have fueled criticism that he lacks the composure needed in clutch moments. His seven-shot performance against Bournemouth, yielding just one goal, encapsulates the frustration surrounding his finishing.
Number of Chances He Created
Jackson’s creative output is a bright spot. He has created 14.5% of Chelsea’s open-play sequences leading to shots, a significant contribution for a striker. His two chances created against Bournemouth and Manchester City demonstrate his ability to set up teammates, even in games where his finishing falters.
His key passes rank third among young strikers in Europe’s top leagues, per DataMB, and his interplay with Palmer has been a cornerstone of Chelsea’s attack. Since the start of 2023/24, Jackson and Palmer have assisted each other 11 times in 39 Premier League games, a partnership that outshines even Drogba and Lampard at a similar stage.
Does Nicolas Jackson Deserve to Be Chelsea’s No. 9?
The question of whether Nicolas Jackson deserves to be Chelsea’s No. 9 next season hinges on balancing his potential against his shortcomings. His early-season form, relentless work rate, and growing chemistry with Palmer make a compelling case. Maresca’s faith in him is unwavering, with the Italian insisting Jackson has the maturity to lead the line long-term, despite the Newcastle red card source.
Jackson’s statistical profile topping young strikers in goals and assists, ranking high in non-penalty xG suggests he’s a rare talent with room to grow. His ability to press and create space is invaluable in Maresca’s system, and at 23, he has time to refine his finishing.
Yet, the doubts are hard to ignore. Chelsea’s ambitions of challenging for the Premier League title demand a striker who can deliver 20-plus goals a season, a mark Jackson has yet to approach. His recent goal drought and disciplinary issues raise questions about his ability to handle the pressure of leading a club of Chelsea’s stature.
The Athletic reported Maresca’s frustration after the Newcastle incident, noting that Jackson “has not kicked on as hoped” since his arrival. Fan sentiment on X reflects this divide, with some praising his work rate while others, like @ayomidejii, argue he’s “not even average” and lacks the quality to lead Chelsea’s line.
The club’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen last summer suggests they’re not fully convinced by Jackson. Had Osimhen joined, Jackson might have been relegated to a supporting role, stunting his development. Instead, his emergence as the undisputed No. 9 has been a blessing in disguise, allowing him to grow into the role.
Comparisons to Drogba and Costa are inevitable, but unfair Jackson’s game is built on pace and skill, not physical dominance. His 21 non-penalty goals since 2023/24 rank him third behind Haaland and Watkins, a promising sign for a player still developing.
Ultimately, Jackson’s case rests on potential versus proven output. He’s shown flashes of brilliance but lacks the consistency to be considered elite. Chelsea’s attacking unit, bolstered by Palmer and others, doesn’t rely solely on Jackson’s goals, which mitigates his shortcomings. If he can improve his finishing and temperament, he could become the complete No. 9 Maresca envisions.
For now, he deserves to keep the shirt not because he’s the finished article, but because he’s shown enough to suggest he could get there. The 2025/26 season will be pivotal in determining whether Jackson can silence the doubters and etch his name alongside Chelsea’s greats.
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