Tonight at the Allianz Arena, Nicolas Jackson returns to haunt the club that never truly accepted him.
The 24-year-old Senegalese striker will line up for Bayern Munich against Chelsea in their Champions League opener, mere weeks after completing a dramatic deadline day loan switch.
The forward's advisors reveal he expressed eagerness to face and score against his parent club during the chaotic final hours of the transfer window.
His move materialised after an extraordinary sequence of events that saw the deal collapse on Saturday when Chelsea's Liam Delap suffered a serious hamstring injury, only to be resurrected by Monday's deadline.
Nicolas Jackson will be looking to hit back at his parent club after being loaned to Bayern Munich
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Jackson's determination to prove himself against supporters who jeered him during Mauricio Pochettino's reign adds extra spice to this European encounter.
The striker's departure from Stamford Bridge followed a deteriorating relationship with both supporters and management.
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Chelsea fans had notably booed him during matches under Pochettino, whilst head coach Enzo Maresca lost faith following red cards against Newcastle United and Flamengo in the Club World Cup.
"It was tough - a tough time. Difficult moments in those last days," Jackson admitted at his Bayern unveiling. "But I was very confident I will stay here because this is where I want to play and want to be."
The forward remained in Germany throughout negotiations as the transfer collapsed and revived within 48 hours. His fractured bond with Chelsea, combined with the arrivals of strikers Joao Pedro and Delap, ultimately forced his exit from west London.
Nicolas Jackson was deemed surplus to requirements after Chelsea signed Liam Delap and Joao Pedro
|REUTERS
The financial structure of Jackson's move ranks among football's most expensive temporary transfers.
Bayern paid £14.3 million for the season-long loan, with a conditional obligation to purchase for £56.2 million - terms that rival the fees commanded by Alvaro Morata's moves to Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
Yet the permanence of this arrangement remains uncertain. Bayern board member Uli Hoeness revealed the striker must start 40 matches to trigger the obligation, telling Sky Germany: "He won't play 40 games from the start."
With only 45 potential matches available excluding German Cup fixtures, and Jackson's expected participation in January's Africa Cup of Nations, meeting this threshold appears challenging.
Any appearance lasting 45 minutes or more counts as a start, whilst Hoeness disclosed that Jackson's agency Epic Sport contributed £1.3 million to the loan fee.
Jackson's Chelsea tenure produced contrasting statistics that fuel debate over his true impact.
The striker netted 14 goals in his debut season, surpassing Didier Drogba's initial tally of 10, and reached 21 goals within his first 50 appearances - matching the Ivorian legend's early record.
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Nicolas Jackson fell out of love with Chelsea fans after red cards against Newcastle and Flamengo
| PAHowever, Opta data reveals Jackson underperformed his expected goals by minus seven across two seasons, the second-worst figure in the Premier League behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin. His inconsistent finishing attracted fan criticism, with productive spells followed by lengthy goal droughts.
Chelsea acquired Jackson for £32 million from Villarreal in 2023 after just three months of exceptional form. The club anticipates substantial profit regardless of whether Bayern's purchase option activates or Jackson moves elsewhere, lending credence to their assessment of his spell as successful.
Jackson's Bayern debut came as a substitute in Saturday's 5-0 victory over Hamburg, partnering Harry Kane in attack. The England captain praised the newcomer's sharpness and physical attributes, noting: "He physically is very strong and fast. And if he plays, he'll be eager to impress."
Manager Vincent Kompany expressed optimism about Jackson's goalscoring potential, stating: "My wish is that he scores a lot of goals for us. I think he'll achieve that."
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Vincent Kompany made it clear he wanted Nicolas Jackson for added attacking options at Bayern
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The versatile forward can operate as a central striker or left winger, offering tactical flexibility.
His proximity to Kane provides valuable learning opportunities whilst reducing the goalscoring burden he faced at Chelsea.