Aston Villa have confirmed that they have reached an agreement to transfer forward Ollie Watkins to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, and they are already lining up a replacement in the form of Chelsea attacker Nicolas Jackson. The reported fee for Watkins is around £50 million, while the deal for Jackson could rise to as much as £65 million, depending on add‑ons and performance clauses. Watkins has expressed enthusiasm about the move to the Kingdom, and although Villa initially rebuffed an earlier offer, they have now accepted Al Hilal's latest proposal.
The England international had been linked with a number of potential suitors, but the Saudi club’s persistence and the attractive financial package ultimately convinced the Villa board to allow the transfer to proceed. Chelsea, on the other hand, have spent the summer preparing to off‑load two of their promising forwards: Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap.
Both players have attracted interest from clubs across Europe, but Villa appear to have the edge when it comes to Jackson, who also has a personal connection with the club’s manager, Unai Emery. Emery and Jackson previously worked together at Villarreal, where the Spaniard first spotted the young French‑Algerian talent and helped shape his development. Jackson arrived at Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 and spent the 2023‑24 season on loan at Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga champions had an obligation to purchase the player for a reported £56.25 million, but that clause was contingent on Jackson reaching a certain number of appearances – a target he failed to meet, meaning the option to buy was not triggered.
As a result, he returned to Chelsea at the end of the loan spell, making him available for a permanent move. In addition to Villa’s interest, Atletico Madrid have also been linked with a bid for Jackson.
However, the Spanish side may struggle to match the financial terms that Villa are prepared to offer, especially given the reported ceiling of £65 million for the transfer. Villa’s willingness to meet that figure reflects their desire to replace Watkins quickly and maintain their attacking potency for the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Beyond the headline deals, Villa have been active in the wider market. Sky Sports in Italy reported that the club have made an approach for Milan winger Rafael Leão, a player who has been a key figure in Serie A. The proposed package for Leão is said to be worth up to £38.5 million, which would place Villa among the few English clubs still willing to spend heavily on proven talent.
The transfer window is also seeing activity elsewhere. Galatasaray have reached an agreement in principle with AC Milan for the Portuguese international, offering a base fee of £38.5 million plus add‑ons, which currently puts them slightly ahead of Villa’s bid for Leão.
Meanwhile, a long list of other moves is circulating, including potential transfers such as Johan Manzambi to Freiburg for £59.5 million, Joao Gomes to Wolves for £38 million, and Zion Suzuki to Parma for £29.9 million. Several loan deals have also been floated, featuring names like Alejandro Garnacho returning to Chelsea on loan, Aaron Wan‑Bissaka heading to West Ham on a temporary basis, and a host of younger players moving between clubs on short‑term agreements.
The sheer volume of rumors underscores how busy the summer market has become, with clubs across Europe and beyond scrambling to reshape their squads ahead of the new season. For Villa, the Watkins sale represents a significant influx of cash that can be reinvested not only in Jackson but also in strengthening other areas of the team.
The club’s strategy appears to be focused on securing a high‑calibre striker who can replicate Watkins’ goal‑scoring record while also fitting into Emery’s tactical system, which favours quick transitions and fluid attacking play. If the Jackson deal goes through, Villa will have swapped one proven Premier League forward for another, potentially even more dynamic player. Jackson’s pace, technical ability, and experience in top European competitions could provide a fresh spark to Villa’s attack, complementing the likes of Ollie Watkins’ former strike partner and giving Emery additional options in the final third. In summary, Aston Villa have agreed to sell Ollie Watkins to Al Hilal for roughly £50 million and are preparing to bring in Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea for a fee that could rise to £65 million.
The club is also exploring the acquisition of Rafael Leão, while other European teams are engaged in their own high‑profile negotiations. As the transfer window progresses, fans can expect further confirmations and possibly additional surprises before the deadline approaches.