The move was mutually beneficial - but the early success has exceeded expectations. His double to beat Manchester City and Enzo Maresca, the manager who sanctioned his exit from Chelsea in 2025, marked a full-circle moment. Jackson is not just recapturing his finest form, he is reaching new levels in his second stint with Unai Emery.
The connection between the two stretches back to their time at Villarreal. A bridge that was never burned and a partnership that always seemed likely to be reignited further down the line. "Unai taught me everything about football," Jackson told Sky Sports in 2025.
And with Emery guiding him once more, it seems as if class is back in session. Sky Sports dives into Jackson's fast start in claret and blue ahead of another chance to impress when Villa host Fulham, live on Saturday Night Football. A common theme during his time at Chelsea was frustrating form in front of goal.
Across his two seasons at Stamford Bridge, Jackson converted only 18 of his 61 big chances (29 per cent). So far for Villa, he has converted three of five (60 per cent), the caveat being it is only a small sample size. But his improvement stretches beyond that.
The 25-year-old has scored four goals in the Premier League from an expected goals (xG) value of just 1.98. Erling Haaland is the only striker overperforming by a greater margin, scoring nine goals from 6xG. Jackson is taking the same amount of shots, around three a game, but his conversion rate has also skyrocketed from just 13.2 per cent in his final season at Chelsea to 21 per cent in 2026/27 so far.
The only time he exceeded that figure in the last five seasons was 29.3 per cent in 2022/23, his last season with Emery before the manager left for Villa. The answer is a combination of things. After being named as the heir to Ollie Watkins' throne up front, with Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo there to offer support, Jackson can take comfort from the knowledge that he is the focal point of the attack.
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