Ollie Watkins has completed his move to Al-Hilal, ending a six-year spell at Aston Villa in a deal reported at £51m. The 30-year-old striker has signed a three-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club.
Villa’s record Premier League scorer departs
Watkins leaves Villa Park as the club’s record Premier League goalscorer, having netted 91 league goals during his time there. He made himself unavailable for Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton last weekend as the move took shape, with manager Unai Emery saying Watkins had apologised for the situation.
The England international did not shy away from acknowledging the awkwardness of his exit. Writing on social media, Watkins said:
“Firstly, I would like to say, never did I intend, nor did I imagine, my time at Aston Villa would end this way.”
He added that he remained “eternally grateful” for his six seasons at the club, saying it had shaped him “as a player, but as a person”, and insisting he had “given everything for this club” through its ups and downs.
From the 7-2 win to Istanbul
Watkins was central to Villa’s rise under Emery, a period that saw the club become regular top-six contenders and win the Europa League — their first European trophy in 44 years. Reflecting on his time there, Watkins referenced specific moments that defined his spell:
“From my first goals in the 7-2 win over Liverpool to getting the club back into Europe, the Champions League nights at Villa Park to that unforgettable night in Istanbul and becoming Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer.”
He called his goalscoring record “an achievement that I never thought would be possible when I signed for the club”, and thanked former managers Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard alongside Emery, “for always believing in me”. Watkins also spoke of his family’s ties to the club, noting that his two children were born in Birmingham and that he had seen them on the pitch as fans sang his name. “Birmingham will always be home, and so will Villa,” he said.
Emery, for his part, said he had “small tears” saying goodbye to a player he described as “fantastic”. Watkins’ departure is the latest in a string of exits from Villa Park this summer, following Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Emiliano Martinez out of the club.
Joining a growing Al-Hilal squad
At Al-Hilal, Watkins links up with Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, who joined following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League. The Saudi club’s recruitment drive is continuing, with Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a medical.
Villa’s rebuild continues
Villa have moved quickly to reshape their squad following Watkins’ exit. The club signed Bayern Munich striker Nicolas Jackson for £65m in July — a fee that broke their transfer record — as his direct replacement, having already broken that record earlier in the window to sign Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi.
The club are also closing in on a deal for Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, worth a reported £29m. An earlier £18m bid was rejected, but Villa have since agreed to meet Southampton’s asking price through an initial £25m fee plus £4m in add-ons. Details are still being finalised, though all parties expect the move to be completed before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
Villa have also brought in former Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Italy left-back Matteo Ruggeri this summer, as the club overhauls its squad to comply with Uefa’s rules on squad cost ratio.
