Ollie Watkins completed his move from Aston Villa to Al-Hilal on Sunday, August 30, 2026, with both clubs confirming the deal. The Athletic reported the fee at £50m plus add-ons, while BBC Sport, the Guardian and Goal.com put the figure at around £51m. Either way, a six-year run in Birmingham is over: 108 goals in 278 appearances across all competitions.
The transfer took weeks to resolve. Al-Hilal had four bids knocked back before a deal was struck, and matters grew messier when Watkins made himself unavailable for Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton on August 23, a game his side lost 4-0. The move only went through after Villa acted quickly to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea for a reported £65m total.
How the deal came together
David Ornstein of The Athletic reported on August 21 that Al-Hilal’s fourth bid, worth around £45m, had been rejected by Villa. Five days later, on August 26, Ornstein reported the two clubs were finalizing an agreement in the region of £50m plus add-ons, subject to Villa bringing in a replacement striker. Jackson’s arrival from Chelsea cleared that condition, and both clubs announced the deal four days after that.
Watkins had two years left on his existing Villa contract, which was set to run until 2028. The club had offered him an extension through 2030, but the England international chose to move to Saudi Arabia instead, signing a three-year deal with Al-Hilal.
What Watkins meant to Aston Villa
Villa paid Brentford £28m plus £5m in add-ons for Watkins in 2020, a club record at the time. He repaid that fee many times over. His 91 Premier League goals for the club make him their all-time record scorer in the competition, and last season alone he contributed 21 goals and five assists across 55 appearances, including a goal in the Europa League final victory over Freiburg in Istanbul.
Villa’s club statement described him as ‘capable of scoring different types of goals with a ruthless streak, allied to a selfless work ethic for his team’s benefit,’ adding that he leaves ‘with the very best wishes of everyone at the football club.’ Head coach Unai Emery was more personal. ‘His commitment and his behaviour was fantastic,’ Emery said. ‘He’s a fantastic guy, a fantastic guy even more than a player. I told him bye with a huge hug and with small tears.’
The Brighton situation
The final weeks were not entirely clean. Watkins made himself unavailable for the Brighton opener as his departure talks intensified, and Villa lost 4-0 without him. Emery confirmed afterward that Watkins had addressed the squad. ‘He told us after the Brighton match he was sorry and that he had made a mistake. He was wrong, but we accepted it. The players as well,’ Emery said.
Watkins addressed the awkward ending in a statement posted to social media after the move was confirmed. ‘Firstly, I would like to say, never did I intend, nor did I imagine, my time at Aston Villa would end this way,’ he wrote. ‘With that being said, I am eternally grateful for the last six years. Not only has it shaped me as a player, but as a person.’ He closed by saying: ‘Birmingham will always be home, and so will Villa.’
What comes next for Watkins at Al-Hilal
Watkins, who turns 31 in December 2026, joins a Saudi Pro League side that has been active in the market. At Al-Hilal he will be joined by Crysencio Summerville, who moved there from West Ham following their Premier League relegation.
On the international front, Watkins appeared for England at the World Cup, coming on in the final group-stage game against Panama and featuring in the third-place play-off win over France. His club future is now settled in Riyadh, while Villa look to Jackson to fill one of the largest roles in their attack.
FAQ
How much did Al-Hilal pay for Ollie Watkins?
The Athletic reported the fee as £50m plus add-ons, while BBC Sport, the Guardian and Goal.com cited a figure of around £51m. Both clubs confirmed the deal on August 30, 2026.
How many goals did Ollie Watkins score for Aston Villa?
Watkins scored 108 goals in 278 appearances for Villa across all competitions, including 91 in the Premier League, making him the club’s all-time record scorer in that competition.
How long is Ollie Watkins’s contract at Al-Hilal?
Watkins signed a three-year deal with Al-Hilal when the move was completed on August 30, 2026.
Al Hilal
Aston Villa