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 with the Midlands club, Watkins found the back of the net 108 times in 278 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as one of Villa's most prolific forwards of the modern era. His final outing in the Aston Villa jersey came in the Europa League final in May, where the team secured a 3-0 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen (the original text mistakenly named Freiburg). The victory not only handed Villa their first European trophy in 44 years but also gave Watkins a memorable 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." The self‑deprecating reference to being a "villain" alludes to the occasional criticism he endured from sections of the fanbase, a label he now embraces with humor.
Earlier in the season, manager Unai Emery disclosed that Watkins had offered an apology to his teammates after he was omitted from the starting line‑up in Villa's 4-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening weekend. Emery initially responded to media queries about the omission with a vague "Ask him. I can only answer with silence," but later clarified that Watkins had indeed said sorry, describing the forward as "a fantastic guy" who had always behaved well at the club. Emery recounted his own farewell to Watkins, saying, "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.
Jackson, a young talent from the French league, is expected to bring fresh impetus to Villa's attack. Exeter City, the club where Watkins began his professional journey, released a statement confirming that they anticipate receiving a payment as a result of the transfer to Al Hilal. Watkins progressed through Exeter's academy from the age of 11, made his senior debut in 2014, and left for Brentford in 2017. Under FIFA's solidarity payment rules, clubs that contributed to a player's development between the ages of 12 and 23 are entitled to a percentage of any subsequent transfer fee.
Exeter explained that the payment process involves multiple parties – Exeter, Brentford, Aston Villa and Al Hilal – and is subject to confidentiality clauses. They warned that the funds may not arrive before the close of the current transfer window and could be disbursed in installments over several years. Exeter pledged to use any monies received to safeguard the club's long‑term financial health and expressed pride in Watkins as a product of their academy. In related news, 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 with an additional £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 earned his first England cap in 2024, scoring once in that solitary appearance. Villa view the defender as a direct replacement for Ezri Konsa, who departed for Arsenal earlier in the summer.
Both transfers signal a period of significant squad turnover for Villa as they reshape their roster ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign. While the departure of a fan‑favorite striker like Watkins marks the end of an era, the arrival of promising talents such as Jackson and Harwood‑Bellis suggests the club is intent on remaining competitive both domestically and in Europe.
The financial details of these moves also highlight the growing influence of Middle Eastern clubs in the global transfer market, with Al Hilal willing to invest heavily to attract established Premier League talent. For supporters, the narrative is bittersweet: they bid farewell to a player who gave them countless memorable moments, yet they also look forward to watching his next chapter unfold in Saudi Arabia, where he will join a squad eager to make its mark on Asian football. Meanwhile, Villa fans can anticipate a new defensive solidity with Harwood‑Bellis anchoring the back line, while the attacking responsibilities shift to the newly signed Jackson and other emerging prospects within the club's ranks.
Overall, the dual transactions underscore the fluid nature of modern football economics, where clubs must balance on‑field performance, financial sustainability, and the ambitions of players seeking fresh challenges abroad. As the summer transfer window draws to a close, all eyes will be on how these strategic decisions translate into results on the pitch for both Aston Villa and Al Hilal.