Nicolas Jackson is now certain to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, with the Bayern Munich loanee unable to reach the appearance threshold required to trigger the obligation-to-buy clause in his deal.
Appearance clause now mathematically out of reach
The 24-year-old left Stamford Bridge in the summer after engineering a move to Bayern, joining on a year-long loan worth an initial £14.2m.
A further £56.2m would have made the transfer permanent once Jackson hit the stipulated number of starts or 45-minute appearances.
Bayern president Uli Hoeness previously confirmed the benchmark was 40 combined starts in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
So far, the Senegal international has made only six qualifying appearances. With Bayern able to play a maximum of 33 more matches in both competitions, and Jackson set to miss up to five fixtures due to the Africa Cup of Nations, the required figure is no longer achievable.
The German champions therefore hold no obligation to activate the permanent transfer.
Breakdown in relations with Chelsea
Jackson’s exit from west London was contentious. Chelsea attempted to block the move late in the window after Liam Delap sustained a hamstring injury, leaving the club short of attacking options.
However, Bayern officials and Jackson’s agent, former Premier League striker Diomansy Kamara, pushed the deal through.
Kamara has since made it clear that the striker’s relationship with Chelsea, particularly with manager Enzo Maresca, is fractured beyond repair.
He cited disciplinary issues and strained communication, noting that Jackson began the season serving a Premier League suspension and also received a red card during Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign.
Asked whether a return to Stamford Bridge was feasible, Kamara told Canal+ Sport: “Absolutely not… the relationship with Maresca isn’t the best. Bayern is a priority for him.”
Bayern unconvinced despite agent’s optimism
Kamara dismissed Hoeness’ earlier comments about the 40-match clause as “a war of egos,” arguing that strong form could still influence Bayern’s decision.
But the reality is less favourable. Jackson is firmly behind Harry Kane in the pecking order, and barring an extended absence for the England captain, the Senegalese forward is unlikely to gain sufficient minutes or deliver the goal return required to persuade Bayern to invest permanently.
For now, Jackson’s future points back to Stamford Bridge, whether he wants it or not.
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