Ollie Watkins completes £51m Al-Hilal move, ending record-breaking Aston Villa chapter
Ollie Watkins has completed a £51 million move from Aston Villa to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, bringing an end to a six-year stay that made him the club's all-time Premier League top scorer with 91 goals.
The 30-year-old striker signed a three-year deal with the Riyadh-based club, who confirmed his arrival on their official website on 30 August. Al-Hilal had four offers rejected by Aston Villa before reaching an agreement — the fee breaks down as £50 million up front plus £1.7 million in add-ons, according to Yahoo Sports. The Guardian reported that an earlier £40 million bid had been turned down before the two sides found common ground.
Watkins spent six years at Villa Park after joining from Brentford in 2020. Under manager Unai Emery, the club became a regular top-six challenger in the Premier League and won the Europa League — Uefa's second-tier club competition — which was Aston Villa's first European trophy in 44 years. Watkins was central to that rise, finishing as a reliable source of goals across domestic and continental campaigns.
His departure, though, carried an edge. Watkins made himself unavailable for Aston Villa's Premier League opener against Brighton, a decision Emery said the player later apologised for, per the BBC. The manager addressed the situation publicly, confirming the apology and moving quickly to draw a line under it.
Watkins himself posted a statement on social media saying he "never intended or imagined" his time at the club would end this way and expressing gratitude for the six years he spent in the West Midlands. The tone was one of a player who knew the exit had not been clean — and who wanted to acknowledge that to the supporters who had sung his name.
Al-Hilal, one of Saudi Arabia's most decorated clubs, are already making the most of the signing. Their official site is running a promotion with partner Qiddiya City, offering five fans the chance to win a signed Watkins jersey and Aquarabia/Six Flags tickets to celebrate his arrival.
For Aston Villa, the loss is a significant one. Replacing a striker who scored 91 Premier League goals — the most in the club's history in that competition — is no straightforward task, and doing so after the transfer window has already begun its final stretch adds urgency. Watkins was not just a number nine; he was the finisher for a team that had re-established itself on the European stage.
For Watkins, the move offers a new chapter in a league that continues to attract established names. Three years in Riyadh is a meaningful commitment, not a short-term swansong. Whether the ending at Villa sits comfortably with supporters is another matter, and one that will take longer to settle.
