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 at the English club, the 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' swan song for Villa came in the Europa League final in May, where he helped the team secure a 3-0 triumph over Freiburg. The victory not only delivered a long‑awaited European trophy – the first for the club 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." The message resonated with fans who had watched his evolution from a promising youngster to a seasoned goal‑scorer.
Earlier in the season, Watkins found himself at the centre of a minor controversy when he missed the opening‑week match against Brighton, a game that ended in a 4-0 defeat for Villa. Unai Emery, the Aston Villa manager, later disclosed that Watkins had personally apologised to his teammates for his absence.
When asked about the situation, Emery initially responded 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 addition of Jackson is intended to preserve Villa's attacking potency as they look ahead to the new season. The financial ripple effect of Watkins' departure extends beyond the Premier League. Exeter City, the club where the England international began his career, issued a statement confirming they anticipate receiving a payment linked to the transfer.
Exeter, which sold Watkins to Brentford in 2017, claims a sell‑on clause entitles them to a percentage of any subsequent fee. Their statement explained: "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 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.
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." Exeter added that the exact timing and structure of the payment remain unclear, noting that it may be disbursed in instalments over several years and that they do not expect to receive any funds before the close of the current transfer window. They pledged transparency with supporters once details become available, emphasizing that any money received will be used to safeguard the club's long‑term stability.
The club concluded with well‑wishes 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 parallel news, 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.
Harwood‑Bllis, 24, has logged 134 appearances for the Saints since his 2020 move from Manchester City and has earned a single England cap, scoring in that solitary appearance in 2024. Villa view him as a direct replacement for Ezri Konsa, who departed for Arsenal earlier in the summer. Both transfers underscore the fluid nature of the modern transfer market, where clubs must balance immediate squad needs with long‑term financial planning.
Watkins' move to Al Hilal reflects the growing allure of the Saudi Pro League, which has attracted several high‑profile players with lucrative contracts. Meanwhile, Villa's swift action to secure Harwood‑Bllis demonstrates their intent to remain competitive in the Premier League despite the loss of a key striker.
Fans of both clubs will be watching closely as these deals unfold, eager to see how the new signings integrate into their respective squads and what impact they will have on the upcoming season. The narrative of Watkins' journey—from Exeter's youth ranks to a European trophy with Villa, and now to a new adventure in Saudi Arabia—serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and global nature of football careers today.