From street footballer to FC Bayern: Nicolas Jackson in the spotlight | OneFootball

Nicolas Jackson's journey to FC Bayern is a story of improvisation, courage, and determination. The Senegalese brings with him an unorthodox street football DNA that will also shape him in Munich.

His career did not start in a youth academy, but on sandy grounds in Ziguinchor in the south of Senegal. With friends as teammates and stones as goalposts, Jackson learned early on to shape creativity out of chaos. Football was pure freedom for him - and this spontaneity shapes his game to this day. "It helped me a lot and gave me a lot of freedom," he recalls.

From the street to the center

Photo: IMAGO

Jackson played on the wings for a long time until his then Villarreal coach Miguel Álvarez recognized his potential in the center forward. "On the wing, he was too far away from the areas where he could cause damage," Álvarez explained later. As a center forward, Jackson blossomed because he could fully develop his dynamics coming from the depth with pace.

Today, the 1.87-meter-tall attacker embodies a type of player that Bayern can use well: fast, risk-taking, direct. He seeks the way into the depth, holds balls with his back to the goal, and has the ability to find solutions in tight spaces. Not a classic box striker, but an attacker with an instinct for the special moment.

Rise in Spain and England

IMAGO

Jackson's first step into professional football led via Casa Sport in his homeland, before Villarreal struck in 2019. After a loan to Mirandés, he matured under Unai Emery, who consistently used him in the center forward. With twelve goals and four assists in the 2022/23 season, he attracted attention across Europe.

Chelsea signed him in the summer of 2023 for just under 35 million euros. In his Premier League debut season, he scored 17 goals and six assists in 44 competitive matches - including a hat-trick in the London derby against Tottenham. By then it was clear: Jackson had made the leap to the highest level.

The fact that he became a professional at all was due to a risky decision: He dropped out of his studies to bet everything on football. A step that initially disappointed his family - but his perseverance paid off. "I always believed that I could make it," says Jackson.

New chapter at FC Bayern

Now, the loan to the German record champion. For a record fee of 16.5 million euros, Jackson comes as immediate help, equipped with a purchase obligation that applies under certain conditions. His role is clearly defined: Backup for Harry Kane, but also an option for a two-striker system or appearances on the wing.

His street football mentality could make the difference for Bayern in tight games. Jackson brings the unexpected, the unpredictable - qualities that hurt any defense. In Munich, he now gets the chance to continue his unconventional career on the biggest stage.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.