Ollie Watkins departs Aston Villa for Al-Hilal
Unai Emery has described an emotional parting with Ollie Watkins, revealing the pair embraced as the striker departed Aston Villa on Thursday ahead of his transfer to Al-Hilal, reports BritPanorama.
The 30-year-old England forward is expected in Saudi Arabia today to finalise a deal worth £51m, concluding a six-year stint at Villa Park during which he became the club’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer with 91 goals.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Emery was visibly moved when discussing the departure. “I told him ‘bye’ with a huge hug and with small tears,” the Spaniard said.
Watkins scored 108 goals across all competitions after arriving from Brentford for £28m in 2020, establishing himself as one of the most prolific strikers in the division.
The farewell came after a turbulent week in which Watkins made himself unavailable for Villa’s season opener at Brighton, a match they lost 4-0. His decision was particularly contentious given that fellow strikers Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo were both sidelined through injury.
Emery had initially responded to the situation with pointed silence but revealed on Friday that Watkins had since expressed regret. “He told us after the Brighton match he was sorry and that he had made a mistake. He was wrong, but we accepted it. The players as well,” Emery said.
The Villa manager was keen to stress that one error should not overshadow years of dedication. “For me, he’s a fantastic guy — a fantastic guy even more than a player,” he added, describing Watkins’s conduct throughout his time at the club as exemplary.
Emery confirmed that Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson has been secured as Watkins’s successor in a deal worth £65m. The Senegal international could feature as early as Monday evening, with Villa working to complete his registration before Arsenal visit Villa Park.
The incoming striker represents a significant financial outlay — nearly £14m more than the fee received for Watkins — signalling the club’s intent to remain competitive despite the upheaval.
Watkins’s departure means six players who started Villa’s Europa League final triumph last season have now left the club this summer. Emery also confirmed the sale of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, with Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne having already moved on — leaving just five of that Istanbul starting eleven still at the club.
Emery described receiving fees of around £50m for players aged 30 or thereabouts as “crazy,” and urged supporters to trust the club’s direction. “We took decisions because it’s good for the club,” he stated. “We don’t want to be a club that sells players, but the responsibility is there.”
With nine new arrivals already through the door, the Spaniard acknowledged the scale of the rebuild but insisted Villa’s ambitions remain unchanged. “We have to rebuild the team as fast as possible,” he said.
As the dust settles on this transfer, it serves as a litmus test for Villa’s strategy moving forward — a reminder that every departure marks the beginning of fresh narratives, and how the club adapts could well define their journey this season.
