Chester complete signing of striker Jacob Hazel from Boston United
Hazel arrives at the Deva Stadium with a strong goalscoring record
Chester have completed their first signing of the summer after snapping up striker Jacob Hazel following his release from Boston United.
Hazel, 32, has penned an initial one-year deal with the Blues and becomes new manager Phil Parkinson’s first signing, with the Chester boss believing that the player can deliver the goals that were lacking last season.
The St Kitts & Nevis international, a traditional number nine, has been a prolific goal-getter across his career that has taken in successful spells at clubs including Scarborough Athletic, Frickley Athletic, Darlington and Boston, having started his career with Chesterfield in 2012.
Parkinson said: “Jacob comes in as a striker with a strong goalscoring record at National League North level and above.
“He is powerful, aggressive, quick, and gives us a real attacking threat.”
Hazel’s time at Frickley saw him plunder 88 goals in 115 before a move to Whitby Town yielded 31 goals in 50 games, prompting Darlington to make a move for him in 2022.
His time at Blackwell Meadows delivered another successful stint in front of goal with the striker bagging 21 goals in 62 games before Boston stepped in to snap him up for an undisclosed fee in 2023.
He helped spearhead Boston’s promotion to the National League and netted 21 goals in 73 games for the Pilgrims, although he missed almost the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury on the final game of the 2024/25 season in a clash at Gateshead.
Such was the high regard Hazel was held in at Boston, the club honored the extension he had been offered before his injury and offered him a year with the option of a second.
Hazel, a hugely popular figure at the Jakemans Stadium with Pilgrims fans, battled his way back to fitness last season to contribute in the final weeks of the season, playing five times in the National League and scoring twice
“I’m absolutely delighted to be here,” said Hazel.
“I’m hard-working, physical and aggressive. I’ve come here for goals, whether that’s scoring or assisting, and to be a big voice on the pitch.”
Hazel, who netted 16 goals for Boston in their first season back in the National League in 2024/25, is the first piece of the puzzle for new boss Parkinson, although a flurry of transfer activity is expected at the Deva Stadium over the course of the next week, with as many as four other deals potentially getting over the line as the club’s Boost The Budget initiative kicks off in earnest on Monday.
With respect to the squad last season, who gave everything from the day Rawlinson took over, I do hope that this squad is a step up from the last. I am so sick of being in this league.