Ollie Watkins has officially completed a £50 million transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal, bringing his six‑year tenure at Villa Park to a close. During his spell with the West Midlands club, the England forward amassed 108 goals in 278 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as one of Villa’s most prolific marksmen of the modern era. Watkins’ swansong for Villa arrived in the Europa League final, where the team triumphed 3‑0 over Freiburg in May.
The victory not only secured the club’s first European trophy in 44 years but also gave Watkins a fitting send‑off on a grand stage. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the striker reflected on his time at the club: “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.” Earlier in the season, Watkins found himself at the centre of a minor controversy when he missed the opening‑week 4‑0 defeat to Brighton.
Manager Unai Emery later disclosed that Watkins had personally apologised to his teammates for the absence. When pressed about the reasons for his non‑selection, Emery replied cryptically, “Ask him. I only can answer it by silence.” After the Brighton match, Emery confirmed that Watkins had indeed expressed remorse, describing the striker as “a fantastic guy” who had always behaved well at the club. He added, “I told him ‘bye’, with a huge hug and a small cry,” underscoring the emotional bond between player and manager.
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 acquisition is expected to shoulder the goal‑scoring responsibilities that Watkins will now shoulder for Al Hilal in the Saudi Professional League.
Exeter City, the club where Watkins began his footballing journey, issued a statement confirming that they anticipate receiving a payment linked to the transfer. The statement explained that the transaction involves several parties—Exeter City, Brentford (who bought Watkins from Exeter in 2017), Aston Villa and Al Hilal—and is subject to confidentiality clauses beyond Exeter’s control. Under FIFA’s solidarity payment mechanism, 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 the Exeter City Academy at age 11 in 2007 and made his senior debut in 2014 after signing his first professional contract. Exeter clarified that they are awaiting further details on the exact amount and timing of the payment, noting that they do not expect to receive any funds before the close of the current transfer window.
The club also warned that any disbursement could be spread over several years in instalments, depending on the terms agreed. They pledged full transparency with supporters once they are able to share information within the bounds of the confidentiality agreements, assuring fans that any money received will be used to safeguard the club’s long‑term stability. The statement concluded with a warm send‑off for Watkins: “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.
As we do with all of our academy graduates, we will continue to follow his career with great interest and pride.” In related news, 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 logged 134 appearances for the Saints since joining from Manchester City and has earned a solitary England cap, scoring in his lone appearance in 2024. Villa expect the defender to plug the gap left by Ezri Konsa, who transferred to Arsenal earlier this summer.
Both transfers illustrate Villa’s strategic reshaping of the squad as they aim to remain competitive in the Premier League while navigating the financial realities of modern football. The club’s willingness to invest heavily in new talent, alongside the departure of a fan‑favourite like Watkins, signals a period of transition that will be closely watched by supporters and pundits alike. The incoming players, combined with the revenue generated from high‑profile sales, could provide the financial flexibility needed to pursue further upgrades and maintain Villa’s ambition of challenging for European places in the coming seasons. Overall, Watkins’ move to Al Hilal marks the end of a memorable chapter in English football, while his former clubs and new teammates look ahead to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
The story underscores the global nature of the modern transfer market, where talent can flow from the Premier League to emerging leagues across the world, bringing both sporting and financial implications for all parties involved.