Ollie Watkins joins Al-Hilal from Aston Villa in £51m transfer

Ollie Watkins has completed his move to Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old striker leaves Aston Villa after six seasons and joins the Saudi Pro League side for a fee of £51 million. The England international has signed a three-year deal, bringing an end to a spell in Birmingham in which he became the club's record Premier League scorer.

• Al-Hilal pay Aston Villa £51 million for the striker.
• Watkins signs a three-year contract with the Saudi club.
• He leaves as Villa's all-time leading Premier League scorer with 91 goals.
• He won the Europa League, the club's first European trophy in 44 years.
• He made himself unavailable for the league opener against Brighton and apologised.

Al-Hilal strengthen their attack with a £51m move for Watkins

Al-Hilal have made a strong statement by bringing Watkins to the Saudi Pro League. The club have paid Aston Villa £51 million and secured the England international on a three-year deal. The transfer ranks among the most eye-catching moves in the Saudi league, which continues to attract established Premier League talent.

Six years at Aston Villa, from key signing to record Premier League scorer

Watkins joined Aston Villa in 2020 and grew into one of the most reliable forwards in the division. His 91 Premier League goals make him the club's all-time leading scorer in the competition, a record that reflects the consistency of a striker who combined movement, pressing and finishing. His progress ran alongside the team's own rise.

From Europa League glory under Emery to an awkward league-opener exit

Under Unai Emery, Watkins played a central role as Aston Villa established themselves as regular challengers at the top end of the table. The high point came with victory in the Europa League, the club's first European trophy in 44 years. His departure, however, was not entirely smooth: the striker made himself unavailable for the Premier League opener against Brighton and, according to Emery, apologised for the decision.

Watkins says farewell to Villa with a message of gratitude

The England international took to social media to say goodbye to the Villa fanbase. He admitted he never intended or imagined his time at the club would end that way, while expressing gratitude for six years that he said shaped him as both a player and a person. He also stressed that, through the ups and downs, he gave everything for the club across his six seasons.

Firstly, I would like to say, never did I intend, nor did I imagine, my time at Aston Villa would end this way. With that being said, I am eternally grateful for the last six years. Not only has it shaped me as a player, but as a person. We've been through so many ups and downs in my six seasons here, but one thing that has never changed is that I have given everything for this club.

What Watkins brings to Al-Hilal's project

Al-Hilal are adding a striker with international experience and a proven ability to hold up play, run in behind and finish inside the box. The Saudi club strengthen a key position with a profile that has already delivered in the Premier League and in European competition. The challenge for Watkins now is to maintain that level in a different footballing environment.