Ollie Watkins Embraces New Life at Al-Hilal Beyond Football
Ollie Watkins says his move to Al-Hilal was about more than football. It was about uprooting his life.
The England international, who arrived from Aston Villa in this summer’s window, has already begun to make his mark in the Saudi Roshn League. He came off the bench to score in the 3-0 win over Al-Ahli last Tuesday, then earned his first start in the 2-0 victory against Al-Shabab, where he went goalless but completed his first full match.
A new life, not just a new league
Speaking after the win over Al-Shabab, in comments reported by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Watkins laid out the thinking behind the switch.
“Personally, I wanted to take on a new challenge that was offered to me and my family,” he said.
For Watkins, this was a life decision as much as a career one.
“We have lived in the United Kingdom our whole lives, and moving here and exploring a new culture is a very wonderful experience,” he explained.
The change has clearly struck a chord. Watkins described how quickly he and his family have settled into their new surroundings and how warmly they have been received.
“Everyone welcomed us warmly and were not sparing with any help,” he said, before underlining the scale of the club he has joined. “Playing for a club the size of Al-Hilal, as the biggest of Saudi Arabia’s clubs, is an amazing opportunity for me. I came here to win championships and titles.”
Early impact and promises to the fans
Watkins has wasted little time setting expectations. The goal on his debut off the bench hinted at what he wants to bring, but he insists he is only just getting started.
The striker made a clear pledge to the Al-Hilal support: “I promise the fans to score plenty of goals.”
He admitted he is still chasing full sharpness after missing pre-season.
“I did not take part in the pre-season preparations, so I am currently working on fully regaining my fitness and physical rhythm,” he said. “Wait for me soon, as you may see me score more than one goal in a single match in the upcoming games.”
Adapting to heat, tempo and new teammates
Watkins also offered a candid assessment of the league he has joined. The level has impressed him, even if the conditions demand adjustment.
“The tempo of play is very good,” he said. “It is natural for the pace of the match to slow down at times because of the high temperatures, but the league features players of extremely high quality, and I will adapt quickly to the weather conditions.”
Against Al-Shabab, he completed his first full 90 minutes for his new club, another step in his adaptation process.
“Today I played a full match, in different conditions,” he noted. “There are new elements that recently joined Al-Hilal, and I am one of them, and we are all going through a phase of integration and adaptation at the moment.”
For Watkins, the chemistry within this revamped Al-Hilal side is still a work in progress, but he is confident it will come.
“The harmony and chemistry between us will certainly develop over time,” he concluded. “But the most important thing for us today is to achieve the win and collect all the points.”
The goals, he insists, will follow.
