Nicolas Jackson says Chelsea chapter is closed as he prepares to face parent club with Bayern Munich

Nicolas Jackson has signalled he does not want to return to Chelsea as he prepares to face his parent club with Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Senegal striker, who moved to Bayern on a season-long loan from Chelsea, appears to regard his time at Stamford Bridge as finished despite remaining under contract until 2033. The transfer includes a reported €65 million (£56.3 million) obligation to buy and a €16.5 million (£14.3 million) loan fee, terms that Jackson and his camp say are secondary to performance on the pitch.

Jackson’s adviser, former striker Diomansy Kamara, was unequivocal when asked on Canal+ Sport’s Talents D’Afrique whether Jackson could see himself back at Chelsea. "Absolutely not. Absolutely not," Kamara said, adding that "the relationship with (Enzo) Maresca isn't necessarily the best." Kamara praised Chelsea for giving Jackson a platform after his move from Villarreal two years ago but said the player now prioritises Bayern.

Bayern’s president Uli Hoeness has said the obligation to buy could be triggered only if Jackson starts 40 matches across the Bundesliga and Champions League — a figure Kamara dismissed as part of what he called a "war of egos" between the clubs. Kamara said Jackson’s focus is on goals rather than reaching an appearance total, arguing that a strong scoring return would make a permanent move more likely regardless of the formal conditions.

Jackson has made a swift start at Bayern, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 5-0 Bundesliga victory over Hamburg at the Allianz Arena last Saturday. He and his advisers have also been mindful of the Africa Cup of Nations in December with Senegal, a tournament that could limit his availability and complicate appearance-based clauses in the loan agreement.

The transfer was not without drama. In the 48 hours before the 11pm deadline on Monday, Sept. 1, Chelsea reportedly told Jackson to return to London after Liam Delap suffered a hamstring injury, asserting he was contractually obliged and no longer permitted to have a medical in Munich. Jackson remained in Munich and the clubs completed the deal before the deadline. A Chelsea contact told Daily Mail Sport at the time that "Nico will be raging. I can’t see how he plays for Chelsea." Maresca did not speak to Jackson during the late-stage negotiations but sent a message wishing him "all the best" once the loan was confirmed.

Bayern manager Vincent Kompany and sporting director Max Eberl were credited with making Jackson feel wanted. German tabloid Tz reported that Kompany and his analysts planned to use Jackson’s knowledge of Chelsea’s set-piece signals and tactical tendencies, a line of reporting the tabloid framed as Bayern gaining an inside edge. Jackson’s camp denied any suggestion of impropriety and pointed to discussions the player had with former Bayern winger Sadio Mané ahead of the move. Kamara said Mané advised Jackson to "express his identity" at his new club and highlighted Kompany’s assurances that Jackson would not face undue pressure to be the club’s primary goalscorer immediately.

Jackson’s conduct in the mixed zone has shown his awareness of the sensitivities of facing his parent club. In Munich this week, he corrected himself mid-answer when referring to Chelsea, switching from "my former cl... no, my club," an indication of his contractual ties and of the emotional complexity of the situation. He has said he remains grateful to Chelsea for signing him from Villarreal and for the opportunities he had there, but Kamara insisted the player has "no interest in returning to Chelsea."

The scenario will be watched closely on Wednesday, when Jackson could become one of several loan players in recent seasons to score against their parent clubs in Europe. Last season, Silas scored for Red Star Belgrade against Stuttgart while on loan; in 2020 Philippe Coutinho, then on loan at Bayern, scored twice in an 8-2 Bayern victory over parent club Barcelona. Jackson has been noncommittal about whether he would celebrate if he scores, with reports noting he appeared mindful of the optics and of respect for Chelsea.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s relationship with some players has been scrutinised in recent months, and Kamara’s comments add to a narrative that Jackson and the Blues are not aligned. Jackson’s rise — he scored 30 goals across two seasons with Chelsea after arriving from Villarreal, according to Kamara’s account — was followed by disciplinary issues at Stamford Bridge, including red cards that Kamara said complicated his time there.

Bayern have sought to integrate Jackson into a squad already featuring established forwards and a prolific attack. Kamara said the club told Jackson he would not be under pressure to be the main reference striker immediately, noting Bayern scored 99 goals last season and that the team has tactical flexibility in forward positions. Bayern’s interest, Kompany’s personal call and assurances about how Jackson would be used were decisive factors, Kamara added.

Jackson’s performance against Chelsea and his output over the next months will have a direct bearing on whether Bayern pursue a permanent transfer. For now, the striker is in Munich preparing to face the club that owns his contract and, according to his representative, one he does not intend to rejoin.