---
title: "Ollie Watkins reveals ‘two main names’ who lured him to Aston Villa"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/11/ollie-watkins-reveals-two-players-who-lured-him-to-aston-villa/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-02-11T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-11T07:00:00Z"
---

# Ollie Watkins reveals ‘two main names’ who lured him to Aston Villa

[Ollie Watkins](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/27/villa-fans-hail-ollie-watkins-display-crystal-palace/) has been a revelation at Aston Villa since his [club-record £28m move](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54080315) from Brentford last summer, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists in [24 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358).

The 25-year-old is even being [tipped](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr3EfVpm1Tc&ab_channel=SkySportsFootball) for an England call-up as reward for his club form, so thanks should be given to Jack Grealish and John McGinn for apparently luring him to Villa Park.

Watkins revealed to [Gaffer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AJVjzhb94c&t=310s&ab_channel=GAFFER) (via [Birmingham Live](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/watkins-reveals-grealish-transfer-talks-19805755)): “All of the boys are welcoming and I played against a few of them in the Championship. (Jack) Grealish and John McGinn – the two main names – I even bumped into in Mykonos when they were swaying me into getting me to Villa.”

The duo’s plan worked and Watkins [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/transfers/spieler/324358) Aston Villa on a five-year deal last September. He has [played every minute](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358) of every Premier League game this season and looks to have a bright future at Villa Park.

The 25-year-old bagged [25 goals in 46 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358/plus/0?saison=2019) for Brentford in the Championship last season and hasn’t struggled with the step up in quality, so credit also goes to the recruitment team.

Watkins has played against Villa [three times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/bilanzdetails/spieler/324358/gegner/405) and has never been on the losing side. He [supplied one assist](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/bilanzdetails/spieler/324358/gegner/405) in those head-to-heads and clearly impressed the Midlanders enough to warrant their interest.

### **READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT**

Although Watkins was the Championship’s [second-highest scorer](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/startseite/wettbewerb/GB2/plus/?saison_id=2019) last season, it was still a big call for Villa to spend a club-record fee on a striker who had [no previous top-flight experience](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/324358).

It has definitely proven to be the right decision, so let’s be glad that Grealish and McGinn managed to entice him to Villa Park.