Ollie Watkins has completed a £50m (€58.4m) move from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
One of the summer’s most protracted transfer sagas in the Premier League has finally reached its conclusion. Al-Hilal SFC of the Saudi Pro League have officially secured the signature of the 30-year-old England forward.
Ollie Watkins departs after racking up 108 goals and 45 assists across 278 appearances for the ‘Villans’. The striker leaves as the Birmingham outfit’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League era, having found the net 91 times.
The England international had recently seen his relationship with Aston Villa deteriorate due to his push for a departure whilst the hierarchy rebuffed incoming bids.
Matters came to a head on 23 August, when Watkins made himself unavailable to face Brighton amid ongoing exit negotiations. “Ask his agent,” declared Unai Emery in the aftermath of their 4-0 defeat when questioned over the striker’s absence.
Although Watkins apologised, the switch has now finally crossed the line. Aston Villa have confirmed the exit of the forward who originally arrived as the Championship’s record sale, with the player admitting on social media that this was not the farewell he had envisioned.
