Ollie Watkins has officially completed a £50 million transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, bringing his six‑year spell at Villa Park to a close. During his time with the club, the English striker found the net 108 times in 278 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as one of Villa’s most prolific forwards 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 victory over Freiburg. The triumph ended a 44‑year drought for a European trophy and provided a fitting backdrop for his departure.
After the match, the forward posted a heartfelt message on Instagram: “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, manager Unai Emery disclosed that Watkins had offered an apology to his teammates after he was omitted from the starting line‑up for the opening‑day 4‑0 defeat at Brighton. Emery initially responded to media inquiries with a terse “Ask him.
I only can answer it by silence.”, but later clarified that Watkins had indeed expressed remorse, describing the striker as a “fantastic guy” who had always behaved well at the club. Emery recalled the emotional farewell, 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. The new forward is expected to bring fresh energy to the attacking line‑up as Villa look to rebuild after a season of transition.
In parallel, Exeter City released a statement confirming that they anticipate receiving a payment linked to Watkins’ move to Al Hilal. The club, which nurtured Watkins from the age of 11 in its academy and gave him his professional debut in 2014, asserts that it is entitled to a sell‑on fee under FIFA’s solidarity payment mechanism. This system allocates a percentage of any future transfer fee to clubs that contributed to a player’s development between the ages of 12 and 23.
Exeter explained that the payment process involves several parties—Exeter, Brentford (to whom they sold Watkins in 2017), Aston Villa, and Al Hilal—and is subject to confidentiality clauses. While the exact timing and structure of the payment remain unclear, Exeter indicated that any funds received will be used to safeguard the club’s long‑term financial stability. The statement concluded with a note of pride: “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 news of Watkins’ departure was accompanied by an exclusive report from Sky Sports News’ Lyall Thomas, revealing that Aston Villa have reached a preliminary agreement with Southampton for the acquisition of centre‑back Taylor Harwood‑Bellis.
The proposed deal is valued at around £30 million, comprising a guaranteed £25 million fee plus £5 million in performance‑related add‑ons, with final contractual details still being ironed out between the two clubs. Harwood‑Bellis, 24, has amassed 134 appearances for the Saints since joining from Manchester City and has earned a solitary England cap, scoring in his lone appearance in 2024. The defender is expected to plug the gap left by Ezri Konsa, who transferred to Arsenal earlier in the summer, thereby strengthening Villa’s back line as they look to re‑establish themselves among the Premier League’s elite. Both transfers highlight a period of significant change for Aston Villa.
The club has seen a high‑profile striker exit for a record fee, secured a new attacking talent in Jackson, and is poised to reinforce its defence with Harwood‑Bellis. Meanwhile, the financial windfall from Watkins’ sale, combined with the potential solidarity payment from Exeter, should provide the club with additional resources to invest in squad development and infrastructure.
The broader context of these moves reflects the growing influence of Middle‑Eastern clubs in the global transfer market. Al Hilal’s willingness to spend £50 million on a proven Premier League forward underscores the Saudi league’s ambition to attract top‑tier talent and elevate its competitive standing. For Watkins, the move offers a new challenge in a rapidly developing football environment, while also presenting an opportunity to become a marquee player in a league eager to raise its profile. Fans of both Villa and Exeter have expressed mixed emotions.
Villa supporters lament the loss of a fan‑favorite striker but remain optimistic about the club’s strategic signings. Exeter’s faithful, meanwhile, are proud to see one of their home‑grown talents reach such heights, while also hopeful that the promised financial remuneration will be delivered and reinvested into the club’s future. In summary, Ollie Watkins’ £50 million transfer to Al Hilal marks the end of a memorable chapter at Aston Villa, where he left an indelible mark with over a hundred goals and a historic European trophy. Simultaneously, Villa’s pursuit of Taylor Harwood‑Bellis signals a clear intent to rebuild and remain competitive in the Premier League.
The financial implications for both Aston Villa and Exeter City, alongside the broader trend of lucrative moves to Saudi clubs, will continue to shape the narrative of English football’s evolving transfer landscape.