Bayern Munich Confirm They Will Not Sign Nicolas Jackson Permanently, Chelsea Striker to Return This Summer

FC Bayern Munich will not pursue a permanent transfer for Nicolas Jackson, confirming that the €65 million buy option included in his season-long loan agreement from Chelsea will not be triggered. The decision brings an end to the possibility of the Senegalese international remaining in the Bundesliga beyond the current campaign.

Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl confirmed the club’s position in an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, as reported by transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who had indicated as early as January that Bayern were unlikely to exercise the clause. With the option now set to lapse, Jackson is expected to return to Stamford Bridge in June.

Jackson joined Bayern on a season-long loan after falling out of favour at Chelsea under then-head coach Enzo Maresca. The temporary move was intended to provide the 23-year-old with regular first-team football, but the Bundesliga giants have ultimately opted against making the arrangement permanent at the agreed valuation.

The situation at Chelsea has shifted considerably since Jackson’s departure. Both Maresca and his successor Liam Rosenior have since left the club, meaning Jackson would return to a dressing room under new managerial leadership. That change in circumstances could present an opportunity for the forward to reclaim a place in the first-team setup, depending on the incoming head coach’s plans.

Jackson arrived at Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee in the region of €37 million, signing a seven-year contract. He registered 17 Premier League goals in his debut season at Stamford Bridge — a promising return that made his subsequent fall from favour under Maresca somewhat surprising to outside observers. Despite that early form, his loan to Bayern represented a significant shift in his standing at the club.

With his future now uncertain, Jackson and his representatives are expected to evaluate all available options over the coming weeks. A move to a third club on a permanent or temporary basis cannot be ruled out, according to reports, with the summer transfer window set to open fresh avenues for the forward.

Bayern, meanwhile, continue their own striker recruitment planning. The German club finished the 2024-25 Bundesliga season as champions and have been linked with several attacking targets as they look to bolster their options ahead of another Champions League campaign. Passing on Jackson at €65 million suggests the club identified the valuation as a limiting factor in their final assessment.

For Chelsea, Jackson’s return adds another variable to what is already a complex squad-building exercise under new management. The club will need to determine whether he fits into their long-term plans or whether a permanent sale in the summer represents a more practical outcome for all parties involved.