Between Chelsea and Bayern: Where Will Nicolas Jackson Land?
17 February 2026
The Transfer Standoff and the Clause
The Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson, on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea, remains in limbo four months before the summer window.
He left Chelsea last summer after losing his place in the lineup under Enzo Maresca, with new arrivals like Joao Pedro and Liam Delap pushing him further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
Jackson joined Bayern on loan for one season, knowing he would be the backup to England captain Harry Kane, yet confident he could show enough to push for a permanent move if the opportunity arose.
Bayern agreed a contract clause that would allow a permanent transfer for £56.2 million if he played 40 matches, with at least 45 minutes on the pitch in each appearance.
Reports from The Times suggest Jackson is preparing to return to Chelsea, and it seems unlikely Bayern will trigger the clause.
The 24-year-old arrived at Bayern last summer on a loan deal worth £14.3 million, and the expectation was for him to contribute regularly.
During his spell, Jackson featured in 22 games, with only seven of those appearances lasting 45 minutes or more.
According to The Times, Bayern may not pursue a permanent move given the insufficient appearances and the narrow scope of negotiations beyond the clause itself.
Jackson has scored five goals in all competitions for the Bavarians so far.
His Africa Cup of Nations duties also left Bayern short of strikers during the winter window, prompting speculation about additional attacking options from outside the club, including Leipzig winger Yann Diomandi as a potential recruit.
As for Jackson, his future at Chelsea remains uncertain after being sidelined by Maresca. Chelsea’s new coach, Liam Rosinior, reportedly admires both Pedro and Delap, and Emmanuel Emiga may return to the squad from Strasbourg this summer. Yet Chelsea have not ruled out recalling Jackson, and interest from other Premier League clubs as well as teams in Spain and Italy persists. Jackson joined Chelsea in 2023 from Villarreal for £32 million and has scored 30 goals in 81 appearances overall.
Punchline time: If Jackson ends up back at Chelsea, he’ll be the only player with a loan option that comes with its own loyalty program. And if Bayern sign him permanently, they’ll finally have a striker who understands the phrase “temporary is the new permanent” better than a temp agency!
