Football Transfer: Ruben Loftus-Cheek joins AC Milan; Chelsea sign Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea FC continued the overhaul of its squad after they sold Ruben Loftus-Cheek to AC Milan on Friday and then signed forward Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.

22-year-old Nicolas Jackson joined the club on an eight-year deal after scoring 12 goals for the Spanish La Liga club last season, including nine in the last eight games.

Chelsea did not disclose a transfer fee for the Senegal international, but British media reported it to be £32 million (€37 million, $40.6 million).

He is the second forward to join Chelsea this summer after Christopher Nkunku.

Jackson’s arrival came shortly after Chelsea confirmed that Loftus-Cheek had completed a permanent move to AC Milan on a four-year deal for a reported 15 million pound sterling plus add-ons (€21 million, $22.8 million).

Loftus-Cheek, 27-year-old, had spent 19 years with the club having joined its youth academy in 2004.

He made 155 appearances for the 'Blues', and scored 13 times, but struggled for game time under successive managers during the second half of last season.

He is the latest player to leave Chelsea in a clear-out under new boss Mauricio Pochettino and following a disappointing campaign that saw the team finish 12th in the 2022-23 English Premier League.

Midfielder Kai Havertz has been sold to Arsenal, while N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy have joined Saudi Arabian clubs, and England midfielder Mason Mount is also expected to be sold to Manchester United.

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