Ollie Watkins has completed a £51m move from Aston Villa to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, bringing his six-year spell at Villa Park to an unexpected conclusion.
The 30-year-old England striker has signed a three-year contract with Al-Hilal after becoming Aston Villa’s record goalscorer in the Premier League, scoring 91 times for the club.
Watkins acknowledged that the circumstances surrounding his departure were not how he had expected his Villa career to finish. He had made himself unavailable for the club’s Premier League opener against Brighton, a decision manager Unai Emery later said the forward had apologised for.
Despite the difficult ending, Watkins leaves as one of Villa’s most influential players of the modern era. Since arriving in 2020, he played a central role in the club’s transformation from a mid-table side into regular contenders near the top of the Premier League.
During his time in Birmingham, Villa returned to European competition, qualified for the Champions League and later won the Europa League, securing the club’s first European trophy in 44 years.
Watkins also produced several memorable moments, including scoring his first Villa goals during the famous 7-2 victory over Liverpool and eventually becoming the club’s leading Premier League scorer.
Emery described the farewell as an emotional one after working closely with Watkins during Villa’s recent rise. The striker is also the latest major player to leave the club during a significant summer of change, following the departures of Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Emiliano Martinez.
At Al-Hilal, Watkins will link up with Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, who moved to Saudi Arabia after West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League. Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli is also expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for a medical ahead of a potential move to the club.
Watkins leaves Villa having played under Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard and Emery. Beyond his achievements on the pitch, his six years in Birmingham also became an important period for his family, with both of his children born during his time at the club.
His departure closes a major chapter in Aston Villa’s recent history, with Watkins leaving as a European trophy winner and the club’s most prolific Premier League goalscorer.