Ollie Watkins has officially completed a £50 million transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal, bringing to a close a six‑year chapter at Villa Park. During his tenure with the English club, Watkins found the net 108 times in 278 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as one of Villa's most reliable forwards.
His swan song for Villa arrived in May when he featured in the 3‑0 triumph over Freiburg in the Europa League final, a victory that ended a 44‑year drought for the club in European tournaments. The win not only secured silverware but also cemented Watkins' legacy as a key contributor to one of the most memorable moments in recent Villa history. Following the match, the striker took to Instagram to express his gratitude, writing: "Six amazing years has come to an end.
Thank you for the amazing memories and always supporting me through highs and lows. Saying goodbye is never easy to this club as it's been a massive part of my life on and off the pitch.
Once a villain, always a villain." His heartfelt post highlighted the emotional bond he shares with the fans and the club, acknowledging both the triumphs and the challenges he faced during his spell. Earlier in the season, Unai Emery, the Villa manager, disclosed that Watkins had personally apologised to his teammates after being omitted from the starting line‑up in the 4‑0 loss to Brighton on the opening weekend. Emery initially responded to media inquiries about the striker's absence with a cryptic remark, "Ask him.
I only can answer it by silence," before later confirming that Watkins had indeed offered an apology. "Watkins said sorry after Brighton. He made a mistake.
He always had good behaviour in the club and with me. He's a fantastic guy," Emery said, adding that he bid Watkins farewell with a hug and a small tear in his eye. Villa have already moved to fill the void left by Watkins, securing the signing of Nicolas Jackson for a club‑record fee that could rise to £65 million.
Jackson is expected to bring fresh dynamism to the Villa attack and help maintain the team's competitive edge in the Premier League. In parallel, Exeter City released a statement confirming that they anticipate receiving a payment linked to Watkins' transfer to Al Hilal.
The club, which nurtured Watkins from the age of 11 in its academy and saw him debut for the first team in 2014, claims a sell‑on clause entitles them to a share of the fee. The statement explained that the payment process involves several clubs—Exeter City, Brentford (who bought Watkins from Exeter in 2017), Aston Villa, and Al Hilal—and is subject to confidentiality agreements. Under FIFA's solidarity payment mechanism, a portion of any transfer fee is allocated to clubs that contributed to a player's development between the ages of 12 and 23.
Exeter City emphasised that any funds received will be used to safeguard the club's long‑term financial stability and pledged to keep supporters informed within the limits of the confidentiality clauses. "We wish Ollie well with this next chapter in his career. He is a fantastic footballer – a product of the Exeter City academy that the whole club is enormously proud of," the statement read. The club reaffirmed its commitment to tracking the progress of its academy graduates with pride.
In related news, Sky Sports News' Lyall Thomas reports that Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle with Southampton for the acquisition of centre‑back Taylor Harwood‑Bellis. The deal is structured as a £25 million guaranteed fee plus £5 million in performance‑related add‑ons, bringing the total potential outlay to £30 million. Harwood‑Bellis, 24, has amassed 134 appearances for Southampton since joining from Manchester City and has earned a single England cap, scoring in that appearance in 2024. His arrival is expected to plug the defensive gap left by Ezri Konsa, who transferred to Arsenal earlier this summer.
The transfer market continues to buzz with activity as clubs adjust their squads ahead of the new season. Villa's strategic signings—both the outgoing sale of Watkins and the inbound acquisition of Harwood‑Bellis—highlight the club's intent to balance financial prudence with on‑field competitiveness. Meanwhile, Al Hilal's investment in Watkins underscores the growing allure of the Saudi Pro League for high‑profile European talent, a trend that has accelerated in recent years as the league seeks to raise its global profile.
Fans of both clubs will be watching closely to see how these moves shape the upcoming campaigns. Villa supporters hope that Nicolas Jackson can replicate Watkins' goal‑scoring prowess, while also trusting that Harwood‑Bellis will bring solidity to the back line. On the other side of the world, Al Hilal supporters anticipate that Watkins' experience and finishing ability will add a new dimension to their attacking options, helping the Saudi side compete for domestic titles and make deeper runs in continental competitions. Overall, the summer transfer window has delivered a mix of emotional farewells, strategic reinforcements, and financial manoeuvres that will define the narrative for the clubs involved throughout the season.