Watkins exit to Al-Hilal leaves Aston Villa facing a costly transfer dilemma

Aston Villa’s striker Ollie Watkins is nearing a departure to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, a move that has left the club and manager Unai Emery surprised. The 30-year-old, who has scored 108 goals in 278 appearances for the club, was omitted from the squad for a 4-0 defeat to Brighton, prompting Emery to deflect questions regarding the striker’s absence. When asked why Watkins was not included, Emery stated, “This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence.”

Al-Hilal have made four offers totalling close to £40m, though Villa are holding firm near the transfer deadline. The latest bid is understood to be below Villa’s asking price, creating a stalemate as the club seeks to maximise value for its all-time record Premier League goalscorer. Watkins, who is open to the move, has been training separately following an extended break after the World Cup and is expected to leave before his 31st birthday.

The situation mirrors last season’s tension surrounding Emi Martinez’s potential departure to Manchester United, where Emery similarly deflected questions about the goalkeeper’s absence. However, the prospect of losing Watkins is viewed as more significant, given his instrumental role in Villa’s Europa League victory in Istanbul, which ended the club’s 30-year trophy drought. The striker joined Villa from Brentford for a then-record fee of £28m and has become synonymous with the club’s rise over the past six years.

Al-Hilal are likely to need to move one of their overseas players to make room for Watkins, despite recently loaning Darwin Nunez to Diriyah. This adds complexity to the negotiations, with other moving parts in the deal potentially delaying a final agreement. Villa must also resolve the futures of Emi Martinez and Ezri Konsa, with Martinez’s move to Juventus having fallen through earlier this month.

The club is targeting Nicolas Jackson as a potential replacement striker, while Tammy Abraham remains happy at the club. Villa have already lost Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Ezri Konsa this summer, making Watkins’ potential exit the most emotionally significant of the departures. Emery needs to find new heroes to fill the void left by these key players.

Watkins previously experienced a similar squad omission situation at Exeter City in 2017, where he pleaded with the manager to play and scored off the bench. Given his attitude and desire, those at Villa are surprised at how the relationship is ending. The striker’s departure would cut the deepest, as his goals, work-rate, and nature made him one of the club’s poster boys.