Ollie Watkins appears set to join Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, a move that threatens to tarnish his legacy at Aston Villa. His absence was keenly felt as Villa were thrashed 4-0 by Brighton on Sunday, a result that leaves them 20th in the Premier League with zero points from one game and a goal difference of minus four.
According to a report from the Independent, manager Unai Emery gave a one-word answer, 'Silence', when asked about the England striker's whereabouts. Emery hinted Watkins refused to play for the club, with Emi Buendia forced to act as a false nine in his place. The defeat leaves Villa three points behind leaders Brighton and facing a daunting next fixture against second-placed Arsenal at Villa Park on 31 August.
Why is Ollie Watkins leaving Aston Villa?
Watkins is reportedly angry about his limited role in the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain in April 2025, where Marcus Rashford was preferred. "I was fuming I had been confined to a brief outing," Watkins said of that match. This frustration, coupled with interest from clubs like Arsenal in January 2025 and Manchester United the following summer, appears to have pushed him towards the exit. His departure would deny him a role in Villa's second European Cup campaign since 1983, a bitter note for a player who won a European trophy with the club.
What did Ollie Watkins achieve at Aston Villa?
Watkins leaves after six years as a transformative figure. He was the club's record signing when he arrived from Exeter City at 21, having never played in the top flight. He became the first Villa player since Peter McParland in 1962 to score 100 goals for the club. His hat-trick in the 7-2 demolition of Liverpool in 2020 was iconic, and he scored a match-winning brace against Manchester City in his final game at Villa Park. He is the only player to reach double figures of Premier League goals in each of the last six seasons, scoring six in his last five games for Villa. In the one game of that five where he didn't score, Villa won the Europa League.
How is Aston Villa's squad being dismantled?
Watkins is not the only key player departing. The club may be stripped of six of the Europa League final starting eleven. Morgan Rogers was sold for £117 million, Youri Tielemans produced a £35 million profit, and Lucas Digne has left. Defender Ezri Konsa, a stalwart and lower-league graduate now almost 29, was sold for £51 million. The club has also tired of Emi Martinez, signing Zion Suzuki as a replacement before the Argentine's exit. Unai Emery inherited a core group signed by Steve Bruce, Dean Smith, or Steven Gerrard, with only John McGinn and Tyrone Mings remaining from that era. This exodus follows the club breaching financial regulations, forcing a major sell-off. You can track the evolving team on our squad page.
What does this mean for Aston Villa's season?
The immediate future looks challenging. Sitting bottom of the standings after one game, Villa have conceded four goals without scoring. The loss of a proven goalscorer like Watkins, who destroyed Newcastle in April 2025 and scored the winner for England in a major tournament semi-final, creates a huge void upfront. The team must regroup quickly for the visit of Arsenal, a match that could define their early season. With the transfer window reflecting a period of significant change, the club's ability to compete hinges on how they replace the outgoing talent and utilise the funds generated from these sales.
