Chelsea began to build their team on Friday by selling Ruben Loftus-Cheek to AC Milan and then signing striker Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.
Jackson, 22, joins the club on an 8 year contract after scoring 12 goals for the Spanish club last season, 9 of which came in the last eight games.
Chelsea did not reveal the transfer fee for the Senegal international, although British media estimated it to be 32 million pounds ($40.6 million). He is Chelsea’s second forward signing this summer, following Christopher Nkunku.
Jackson’s arrival came right after Chelsea revealed Loftus-Cheek’s permanent move to Milan on a 4 year contract. Loftus-Cheek, 27, has been at the club for 19 years after joining its youth academy in 2004.
He appeared in 155 games for the Blues, scoring 13 goals, but struggled for game time under successive managers in the second half of last season.
He is the latest player to exit Chelsea following a poor season in which the club finished 12th in the Premier League. N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy have all joined Saudi Arabian teams, while midfielder Kai Havertz has been sold to Arsenal. Mason Mount, an England midfielder, is also reported to be sold to Manchester United.