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Aston Villa summer transfer drive

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-25 09:04 UTC → 2026-08-25 17:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

By late August 2026, Aston Villa’s transfer activity centered on the potential departure of striker Ollie Watkins. Following ~~previous~~ reports of Al Hilal’s interest and Watkins being spotted at Birmingham Airport, a deal appears imminent. Al Hilal is expected to announce the signing of the 30-year-old striker in a deal valued at approximately 450 million ~~riyals. Reports indicate that the~~ riyals, with transfer costs ~~are being fully~~ reportedly covered by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. The move is intended to bolster Al Hilal’s attacking options amid uncertainty regarding the future of Karim Benzema. During this period, Watkins was absent from the matchday squad during Aston Villa’s 4-0 loss to Brighton. Manager Unai Emery confirmed the club has received offers, stating that while he does not wish to sell, a transfer could occur if it serves the best interests of the player, the club, and the team, provided a replacement is secured. The high valuation of the deal has prompted debate among analysts. Some critics have highlighted the significant gap between Watkins’ estimated market value and the actual transfer fee, suggesting the “astronomical cost” could create financial ~~challenges or complicate the settlement of Benzema’s contractual rights.~~ challenges. Conversely, others argue that market valuation platforms often fail to reflect the true real-world cost of elite global stars. Additionally, former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand has urged his former club to pursue Watkins, suggesting they could miss a “significant opportunity” by failing to act before the September 1 deadline.

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