Ollie Watkins has officially sealed a £50 million transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal, bringing his six-year spell at Villa Park to a close. During his tenure with the West 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 reliable forwards.
His final outing in the Aston Villa shirt came in May, when he featured in the 3-0 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final. That victory not only secured a coveted European trophy for Villa – ending a 44‑year drought without continental silverware – but also gave Watkins a fitting send‑off on the continental stage. Watkins marked the occasion with a heartfelt Instagram post, 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." The self‑deprecating reference to his early reputation among Villa supporters highlighted his affection for the fanbase despite the occasional criticism he endured. Earlier in the season, manager Unai Emery disclosed that Watkins had offered an apology to his teammates after missing the opening‑week 4-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Emery initially responded to media inquiries about the striker's absence with a cryptic "Ask him.
I can only answer with silence," but later clarified that Watkins had indeed expressed remorse, describing the incident as a mistake and praising Watkins' overall conduct at the club. Emery added, "He always had good behaviour in the club and with me. He's a fantastic guy. I told him 'bye' with a huge hug and a small cry." Villa have already moved swiftly to fill the void left by Watkins, securing the signing of forward Nicolas Jackson for a club‑record fee that could rise to £65 million.
The new acquisition signals Villa's intent to remain competitive in the Premier League while rebuilding after the departure of their star striker. The transfer also has repercussions for Exeter City, the club where Watkins began his professional journey.
Exeter released a statement confirming that they anticipate receiving a payment as part of the solidarity mechanism governed by FIFA. Under this system, clubs that contributed to a player's development between the ages of 12 and 23 are entitled to a percentage of subsequent transfer fees.
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's statement explained: "We can confirm we expect to receive a payment following the transfer of Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa to Al Hilal.
This process involves a number of clubs – Exeter City, Brentford (to whom Exeter sold Ollie in 2017), Aston Villa and Al‑Hilal – and is subject to confidentiality clauses beyond our control. Under FIFA's solidarity payment mechanism, a proportion of any transfer fee is distributed to clubs involved in training and developing a player between the ages of 12 and 23. We are awaiting further details regarding the payment and do not anticipate receiving any sum before the end of the current transfer window.
Payments may be made in instalments over several years." The club emphasized that any funds received would be used to safeguard and strengthen its long‑term financial stability, and they expressed pride in Watkins as a product of their academy. "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. In related news, Aston Villa have reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Southampton for the signing 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 earned his first England cap in 2024, scoring once in that solitary appearance. The acquisition of Harwood‑Bellis is intended to plug the defensive gap left by Ezri Konsa, who transferred to Arsenal earlier in the summer. Villa's recruitment strategy appears focused on reinforcing both ends of the pitch – a new striker in Jackson and a new centre‑back in Harwood‑Bellis – as they aim to maintain a strong Premier League standing after the loss of two key players.
Overall, Watkins' departure marks the end of an era for Aston Villa supporters, who will remember his prolific goal‑scoring record and his role in delivering a long‑awaited European trophy. Meanwhile, his move to Al Hilal reflects the growing allure of the Saudi Pro League for high‑profile European talent, a trend that continues to reshape the global football landscape. The ripple effects of his transfer extend beyond the Premier League, touching his formative club Exeter City and highlighting the financial mechanisms that reward clubs for nurturing young talent. As the summer transfer window draws to a close, fans can look forward to seeing how the new signings integrate into Villa's squad, while Watkins embarks on a new chapter in Saudi Arabia, aiming to replicate his success in a different footballing environment.