Chelsea have been active again in the summer 2025 transfer window, adding two new strikers in Joaoa Pedro and Liam Delap, as well as two new wingers in Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Estevao Willian to go along with a host of other signings.
However, Chelsea have been looking to make more moves before the summer window closes on Sept. 1. They were keen on the attacking midfield duo of Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho, but the Simons deal fell through at the last second, with the RB Leipzig star instead joining London rivals Tottenham.
Chelsea have thus pivoted to Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez, who could be the next breakout star in midfield in world football, as the only thing holding him back in Catalunya is the sheer glut of playmaking talent.
But beyond new signings, Chelsea have been working on a few high-profile exits, and the imminent one was that of striker Nicolas Jackson, who became expendable after the signings of Delap and Pedro.
Chelsea kill the transfer at the last second
Chelsea were even set to sell Jackson to Bayern Munich, making the Senegalese striker the lastest Premier League player to join an attack of Michael Olise, Harry Kane, and Luis Diaz.
However, the Athletic’s David Ornstein is now reporting that Chelsea have placed the kibosh on the deal, killing the transfer just as it was expected to be a confirmed loan deal with an option to buy, with Jackson optimsitic about joining the prestigious Bayern.
Why did Chelea abruptly change their minds? Their new striker, Delap, just went down with an injury in a 2-0 win over Fulham in Saturday’s Premier League rivalry battle with the Cottagers.
Chelsea would be down to only Joao Pedro at striker with Delap out for a several weeks to a few months, so the Blues can ill-afford to be that thin at the No. 9 position and let Jackson go to a Champions League competitor.
So Chelsea have recalled Jackson back to London, as the 24-year-old forward was already in Bavaria ahead of a move to Die Roten, which, again, was pending completion.
Jackson and Chelsea have grown apart, but if it weren’t for this unique opportunity to join Bayern, the striker may have stayed at Stamford Bridge anyway. And there’s always a chance he can convince Chelsea that he belongs at the club.
It’s disappointing for Jackson to not get his move to Bayern and to have it pulled from him at the last second, but Chelsea should be OK with Jackson as an option in relief of Pedro if needed.
The money and move would have helped all parties, but it’s better for Chelsea to have an additional option at striker than go into the start of a Premier League title race with only Joao Pedro available for potentially multiple months.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.