If you ever need to explain Chelsea’s recruitment model, look no further than the case of Nicolas Jackson.
With 12 goals in 26 La Liga games for Villarreal in the year he turned 22, Jackson flashed obvious potential. That’s usually good enough to convince Chelsea to pursue a move on its own, but the fact he was available for a release clause of just £32 million ($43 million) made his 2023 switch to Stamford Bridge a bit of a no-brainer.
