Ollie Watkins has officially completed a £50 million transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, bringing his six‑year tenure at Villa Park to a close. During his spell in Birmingham, Watkins found the back of the net 108 times in 278 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as one of the club's most reliable forwards. His final outing in the Aston Villa jersey came in May, when he featured in the 3-0 triumph over Freiburg in the Europa League final.
That victory ended a 44‑year drought for Villa, securing the club's first European trophy since 1979 and cementing Watkins' place in the squad’s recent history. After the match, the striker posted a heartfelt message on Instagram: "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." The emotional note highlighted the deep bond he forged with the fans and the club over his six‑year spell. Earlier in the season, manager Unai Emery disclosed that Watkins had personally apologised to his teammates after he was omitted from the starting line‑up in a 4-0 defeat to Brighton on the opening weekend. Emery initially responded to press queries about the omission by saying, "Ask him. I only can answer it by silence," before later confirming that Watkins had indeed expressed remorse.
"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 added, noting the mutual respect between player and coach.
He recalled their parting moment: "I told him 'bye', with a huge hug and a small cry." 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. The new forward is expected to shoulder the goal‑scoring responsibilities that Watkins vacated.
Exeter City, the club where Watkins began his football education, issued a statement confirming that they anticipate receiving a payment linked to his move to Al Hilal. The former academy side reminded supporters that the transfer involves several parties—Exeter City, Brentford (to whom Exeter sold Watkins in 2017), Aston Villa and Al Hilal—and that confidentiality clauses govern the details.
Under FIFA's solidarity payment rules, a percentage of any transfer fee is allocated to clubs that contributed to a player's development between the ages of 12 and 23. Watkins entered Exeter's academy at age 11 in 2007 and made his senior debut in 2014 after signing his first professional contract. The Exeter statement explained that the exact timing and structure of the payment remain uncertain: "We are awaiting further details regarding the payment.
We do not know how long this process will take to conclude, but we do not anticipate receiving any sum before the end of the current transfer window. Subject to the terms agreed, it is also possible that payments will be in instalments over a number of years." The club pledged transparency with its supporters while respecting confidentiality agreements, and affirmed that any funds received would be used to safeguard the club’s long‑term financial stability. Exeter concluded its announcement by wishing Watkins well in his new chapter, describing him as "a fantastic footballer – a product of the Exeter City academy that the whole club is enormously proud of".
The club reiterated its commitment to monitoring the progress of all academy graduates with pride. In a separate development, Aston Villa have reached a provisional agreement with Southampton for the acquisition of centre‑back Taylor Harwood‑Bellis. The deal is structured as a £25 million guaranteed fee plus up to £5 million in performance‑related add‑ons, bringing the total potential outlay to £30 million.
Harwood‑Bellis, 24, has amassed 134 appearances for the Saints since arriving from Manchester City and has earned a single England cap, scoring in his sole appearance in 2024. The defender is expected to plug the gap left by Ezri Konsa, who transferred to Arsenal earlier in the summer.
Villa’s defensive line will benefit from Harwood‑Bellis' experience in the Premier League and his proven ability to contribute both defensively and with occasional goals. Overall, the summer transfer window has been eventful for Aston Villa.
While they bid farewell to a prolific striker in Ollie Watkins and have secured a high‑profile centre‑back in Harwood‑Bellis, the club also invested heavily in a new attacking option with Nicolas Jackson. Fans can look forward to a refreshed squad that blends seasoned internationals with emerging talent, aiming to compete on multiple fronts in the upcoming season.
The broader context of these moves reflects the growing influence of Saudi Arabian clubs in European football, as Al Hilal continues to attract high‑calibre talent with substantial financial packages. Watkins' transfer underscores the increasing willingness of top‑flight players to explore opportunities outside the traditional European leagues, driven by both competitive ambitions and lucrative contracts.
Meanwhile, the solidarity payments and sell‑on clauses highlighted by Exeter City illustrate how smaller clubs continue to benefit financially from the success of players they helped develop. These mechanisms ensure that grassroots institutions receive a share of the wealth generated by the global football market, reinforcing the importance of youth development pathways. As the new season approaches, Aston Villa supporters will be eager to see how the new signings integrate, how the team adapts to the loss of Watkins' goal‑scoring prowess, and whether the defensive reinforcement from Harwood‑Bellis can solidify a back line that struggled at times last season.
The club’s management appears confident that the blend of experience, youth, and financial investment will position Villa to challenge for higher league positions and possibly make a deeper run in European competitions.