[REVISION HISTORY]

Ollie Watkins completes transfer to Al-Hilal

Updated 13 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-06 01:11 UTC → 2026-09-14 21:31 UTC · added ~~removed~~

On August 30, 2026, Ollie Watkins finalized his transfer from Aston Villa to the Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old England international signed a three-year contract in a deal valued at approximately £51 million (€58-59 million). Watkins departs Aston Villa as the club’s record Premier League goalscorer with 91 goals, having notably helped the team secure the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League title. Upon leaving, Watkins expressed his appreciation for his time in Birmingham, stating, “I am eternally grateful for the last six years. Not only has it shaped me as a player, but as a person.” Following his move, Watkins made a successful debut for Al-Hilal, scoring in a 3-0 victory against Al-Ahli. He subsequently featured in a 2-0 win against Al-Shabab. Regarding the level of competition, Watkins stated that the intensity and physical demands of the Saudi Pro League are comparable to the English Premier League, dismissing criticisms of the league's quality. At Al-Hilal, Watkins joins a squad managed by Simone Inzaghi. The club continues a period of high investment, with a roster that includes players such as Crysencio Summerville, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Theo Hernandez. Following the relocation to Riyadh, Watkins' wife, Ellie, shared her emotions regarding the sudden transition on social media. She noted that moving to Saudi Arabia was not part of her plans for 2026 and described the experience of closing their chapter in Birmingham as “heartbreaking.” By mid-September, uncertainty emerged regarding Watkins' availability. Ahead of an AFC Champions League Elite match against Qatar's Al Gharafa, manager Simone Inzaghi raised questions about the striker's fitness. Inzaghi noted that Watkins' participation would be decided following a final training session, citing the physical challenges of a congested schedule following a match against Al Taawoun just 48 hours prior.

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