Aston Villa have officially confirmed the sale of star striker Ollie Watkins to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal in a permanent deal worth £50million, alongside further performance-related add-ons. The 30-year-old England international has finalized terms on a three-year contract in Riyadh, bringing an end to a high-stakes transfer narrative after the Saudi Arabian side had previously seen four bids rejected, including a £45million proposal. Watkins actively pushed for the move to the Middle East, declining Villa’s latest contract extension offer through 2030 to embark on a new chapter in his career.
Watkins departs Villa Park as one of the most effective forwards in the club’s modern history after arriving from Brentford in 2020 for a then club-record £28million fee plus £5million in add-ons. Originally brought to the West Midlands by former manager Dean Smith, the forward registered 108 goals and 47 assists across 278 appearances in all competitions. Crucially, he achieved double-figure goal tallies in every one of his six seasons at the club and departs as Villa’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer with 91 goals. He also etched his name into club folklore by becoming the first player in the modern era to score 100 goals in Claret and Blue, reaching his century against Bologna last season during a campaign that featured a European title run in the Europa League.
The 30-year-old had entered the final two years of his Villa contract, which was set to run until June 2028, but consistently turned down informal attempts by the club to secure his long-term future. At Villa Park, Watkins earned a fixed salary of £130,000 per week, a figure heavily dwarfed by Al Hilal’s wage structure, where top earner Karim Benzema commands €2,354,808 weekly. His departure marks the latest high-profile exit in a summer of significant squad restructuring for Villa, following the departures of senior first-team figures Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, and Lucas Digne.
To fill the void in their attack, Aston Villa moved swiftly to secure his replacement, agreeing a £65million total package with Chelsea to sign forward Nicolas Jackson. Villa remained firm on retaining Watkins until a direct successor was finalized, particularly with dynamic attacking options Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo currently working their way back from injury. With Jackson brought in to lead the line at Villa Park, Al Hilal’s recruitment campaign continues at pace, with Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli expected to follow Watkins to the Riyadh-based club.
