Ollie Watkins has completed his £51million transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, bringing an extraordinary six-year spell at Villa Park to an end.
The 30-year-old has signed a three-year contract in Saudi Arabia after Villa agreed to sell their record Premier League goalscorer.
BBC Sport confirmed that Watkins has completed the £51m move, ending a Villa career in which he scored 91 Premier League goals and played a central role in the club’s rise under Unai Emery.
His departure had been moving towards completion for several days, with Watkins travelling to Saudi Arabia after Villa accepted Al-Hilal’s offer.
Ollie Watkins says goodbye to Aston Villa
Watkins has now addressed supporters following a difficult conclusion to his time in Birmingham.
The England international made himself unavailable for Villa’s opening Premier League defeat at Brighton, a decision Emery later revealed Watkins had apologised for.
Watkins acknowledged the manner of his departure in his farewell message before reflecting on six seasons at Villa Park.
He wrote:
“Birmingham will always be home, and so will Villa.”
His Villa career included a hat-trick in the famous 7-2 victory over Liverpool, Champions League football and a Europa League triumph.
Watkins also thanked former managers Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard before reserving particular praise for Emery for believing in him.
The Villa boss had already admitted he became emotional when saying goodbye to Watkins.
Intriguingly, Emery had originally hoped Watkins would remain alongside Nicolas Jackson rather than be directly replaced by him. ReadAstonVilla revealed how Emery ideally wanted Watkins and Jackson together before the Al-Hilal move progressed.
Aston Villa rebuild continues after Watkins exit
Watkins becomes another established first-team player to leave during a dramatic summer rebuild.
Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne have also moved on, while Villa have invested heavily in replacements.
Jackson has arrived to lead Emery’s attack, with Zion Suzuki, João Gomes, Matteo Ruggeri and Leon Goretzka among the other additions.
Villa are also closing in on Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, with the BBC reporting that a deal could reach £29m, comprising £25m up front and £4m in add-ons.
Watkins’ departure nevertheless carries greater significance than most.
He leaves as Villa’s record Premier League scorer after six years in which he developed from a Championship signing into an England international and one of the defining players of Emery’s tenure.
Villa now begin a new era without him.
