Aston Villa confirms Ollie Watkins’ departure to Al Hilal after apology to Emery

Ollie Watkins is leaving Aston Villa. The striker who became the club’s most prolific Premier League goalscorer is heading to Al Hilal in a deal worth £50 million ($67 million) plus add-ons, ending a chapter that finished with far less grace than it deserved. The transfer comes after Watkins refused to play in Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton on August 23, 2026, a match Villa lost 4-0. Manager Unai Emery confirmed on August 28 that Watkins apologized before departing, but the damage to his relationship with the fanbase was already done. A messy exit from a storied tenure Al Hilal reportedly had four offers rejected before Villa finally accepted the fifth, suggesting the club wasn’t eager to lose its talisman. Emery insisted that Watkins’ legacy at the club remains “not tarnished.” Watkins’ final season at Villa Park saw him play 55 games, score 21 goals, and add 5 assists. He was central to Villa’s Europa League triumph in May 2026, a milestone that ended a 30-year trophy drought. The Saudi Pro League’s gravitational pull Watkins, 30, joins a growing list of players who’ve traded European football for the financial gravity of the Saudi Pro League. The £50 million fee ...