Ollie Watkins joins Al-Hilal from Aston Villa for £51m

Ollie Watkins has completed a £51m transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, the move confirmed on 30 August 2026. The 30-year-old striker has signed a three-year contract and departs Villa as their record Premier League goalscorer with 91 goals.

Watkins leaves after six years at Villa, a spell in which he played a key part under manager Unai Emery as the club established themselves as regular top-six challengers and won the Europa League, their first European trophy in 44 years. The England international made himself unavailable for Villa's Premier League opener against Brighton last weekend, which Emery said Watkins apologised for. Emery said he had "small tears" as he said goodbye to the "fantastic" Watkins.

Watkins posted on social media: "Firstly, I would like to say, never did I intend, nor did I imagine, my time at Aston Villa would end this way," and added: "I want to thank everyone who has contributed to my time here, Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard and especially Unai Emery for always believing in me." He also reflected on personal moments at the club, writing: "My two children were born here, and to see them walk on to the pitch and see you fans sing my name in front of them and my family is something that will always stay with me forever. Birmingham will always be home, and so will Villa."

At Al-Hilal, Watkins will reunite in the squad with Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, who departed West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League. Villa have already identified replacements and reinforcements during the transfer window; Nicolas Jackson has been signed as Watkins' successor.

Aston Villa are close to securing Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis in a deal worth £29m, with the one-time England international, 24, expected to move subject to finalising minor details before Tuesday's transfer deadline. Villa had a previous £18m offer rejected and have returned with an arrangement that would see an initial £25m fee plus £4m in add-ons.

Earlier in the summer Villa broke their transfer record to sign Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi and then exceeded that figure with a £65m move for Bayern Munich striker Nicolas Jackson; former Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Italy left-back Matteo Ruggeri have also joined as the club make wholesale changes to comply with Uefa's rules around squad cost ratio.

Watkins is the latest departure in a busy Villa summer that has also seen Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne leave, while Villa push to complete Harwood-Bellis' transfer before the Tuesday deadline.