Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has completed a £50 million transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. The move ends his six-year association with the Midlands club, during which he scored 105 goals in 276 appearances across all competitions.
Watkins, 31, joined Villa from Brentford in the summer of 2020 and had two years remaining on his contract after signing a renewal in October 2023. Villa had offered fresh terms on a four-year deal in an attempt to persuade him to stay, but the lucrative contract proposal from Al-Hilal proved impossible to match.
Move decided weeks ago
According to sources, Watkins had made his decision to leave weeks before the transfer window closed. His desire to secure the move to Saudi Arabia was so strong that he did not make himself available for Villa's opening Premier League match of the season against Brighton, which Villa lost 4-0.
The striker's departure comes after a period of sustained goalscoring form. He scored a career-best 19 goals in the 2023/24 campaign, followed by 16 goals in each of his last two Premier League seasons with Villa.
Nicolas Jackson named as replacement
Villa have moved quickly to fill the void left by Watkins, agreeing a £65 million package with Chelsea for Senegal international Nicolas Jackson. The 23-year-old forward will be expected to lead the line as Villa look to build on their recent top-four finishes.
The deal represents a significant investment in the squad and signals Villa's intent to remain competitive in the Premier League and European competitions despite losing their leading scorer.
Impact on Villa's season
Watkins' exit leaves a notable gap in Villa's attacking options, and the timing of the move—after the season had already begun—adds further disruption. The 4-0 defeat to Brighton highlighted the team's struggles without their talismanic striker, and Jackson will need to adapt quickly to Unai Emery's system.
The transfer also underscores the growing financial pull of the Saudi Pro League, which has attracted several high-profile players from European clubs in recent windows. For Villa, the £50 million fee provides funds for further reinforcements, though the club's ability to replace Watkins' goalscoring output will be closely scrutinised in the coming months.
Watkins leaves Villa as one of their most productive strikers in recent history, with his 105 goals placing him among the club's top scorers of the modern era. His departure marks the end of an era for Villa fans, who will now look to Jackson to deliver similar returns.
