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 English forward amassed 108 goals in 278 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as one of Villa’s most prolific attackers of the modern era.
Watkins’ final outing in the Aston Villa shirt came in the Europa League final, where the team secured a 3-0 victory over Freiburg in May. That triumph ended a 44‑year wait for a European trophy and gave the striker a fairy‑tale send‑off. He marked the occasion with an emotional 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.” Earlier in the season, Watkins found himself at the centre of a minor controversy. Unai Emery, the Villa manager, disclosed that the striker had apologised to his teammates after being omitted from the starting line‑up for the opening‑week 4-0 defeat at Brighton. Emery initially responded to questions about the absence with a cryptic “Ask him.
I only can answer it by silence,” before later clarifying: “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. 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 bring fresh impetus to Villa’s attack as they look to rebuild after the departure of their star striker.
The transfer also has implications for Exeter City, the club where Watkins began his professional journey. Exeter released a statement confirming that they anticipate receiving a payment as a result of the move to Al Hilal. The club highlighted the complex chain of transactions that involve Exeter, Brentford (who bought Watkins from Exeter in 2017), Aston Villa and Al Hilal. 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.
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 read: “We can confirm we expect to receive a payment following the transfer of Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
This process involves a number of clubs – Exeter City, Brentford, Aston Villa and Al‑Hilal – and is subject to confidentiality clauses beyond the control of Exeter City Football Club. 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.
Ollie was part of the Exeter City Academy from the age of 11 in 2007 and made his first‑team debut in 2014 after signing his first professional contract that season. 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.
To ensure full transparency, we will share further information with supporters when we are able to do so, however, this will be in line with the confidentiality agreements in place. We can assure supporters that any sum received will be used to protect and strengthen the long‑term security of the Club.
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 a separate but related development, Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle with Southampton for the acquisition of centre‑back Taylor Harwood‑Bllis. 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.
The 24‑year‑old defender has logged 134 appearances for the Saints since arriving from Manchester City and has earned a solitary England cap, scoring in his lone appearance in 2024. Harwood‑Bllis is expected to plug the defensive gap left by Ezri Konsa, who transferred to Arsenal earlier this summer. The signing underscores Villa’s intent to rebuild a balanced squad after the departure of key figures like Watkins and Konsa. Both transfers illustrate the fluid nature of modern football markets, where clubs must constantly adapt to player movements, financial considerations, and the strategic goals of their management.
As Villa look ahead to the new season, the integration of new signings such as Jackson and Harwood‑Bllis will be crucial in determining whether they can maintain competitiveness in the Premier League and pursue further success in domestic cup competitions. The broader context of Watkins’ move to Al Hilal also reflects the growing allure of the Saudi Pro League, which has attracted several high‑profile players in recent years with lucrative contracts and ambitious club projects.
While some fans view these moves as a departure from traditional European football pathways, others see them as opportunities for players to experience new cultures, contribute to the development of the sport in emerging markets, and secure financial stability. In summary, Ollie Watkins’ £50 million switch to Al Hilal marks the end of a memorable chapter at Aston Villa, while his former club swiftly acts to reinforce their squad with Nicolas Jackson and Taylor Harwood‑Bllis.
Exeter City stands to benefit financially through FIFA’s solidarity payments, ensuring that the club’s youth development model continues to be rewarded. The upcoming season promises fresh challenges and opportunities for all parties involved, with the ultimate test being how well Villa can replace the goals and leadership lost with Watkins’ departure.