Ollie Watkins Apologizes to Aston Villa Squad Amid Saudi Arabia Move
Unai Emery says Ollie Watkins apologised to the Aston Villa squad for refusing to play on Sunday – and admitted their farewell ended in “small tears” as the club’s record Premier League scorer prepares to leave for Saudi Arabia.
Watkins, 30, is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Friday to complete a £51m move to Al-Hilal, drawing a line under a four-year spell in which he became the face of Villa’s resurgence under Emery.
The England striker, signed from Brentford for £28m in 2020, leaves with 91 Premier League goals for Villa and 108 in all competitions – both club records in the modern era.
Emery: ‘He was wrong, but we accepted it’
The one stain on his exit came at the weekend, when Watkins made himself unavailable for the game against Brighton as talks over his move accelerated.
“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.
“His commitment and his behaviour was fantastic. 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.
“But now it’s a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson.”
Jackson lined up as £65m replacement
Villa have moved quickly. A £65m deal is in place for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, with the club working against the clock to have the Senegal international registered in time for Monday night’s home clash with Arsenal.
Watkins’ exit follows a summer of upheaval at Villa Park, with several senior figures from last season’s successful 2025-26 campaign moving on. The scale of change has rattled some supporters, but Emery stood firmly behind the club’s strategy.
“We took decisions because it’s good for the club,” he said. “Of course, we don’t want to be a club that sells players, but the responsibility is there. It’s crazy [money for someone] 30 years old and £50m for Ezri Konsa [who is 28].
“How we developed in the last year with some players and how we can sell some players now is completely the right decision.
“We have to rebuild the team as fast as possible. [Fans] have to accept our way and why we are taking some decisions.”
Goretzka arrives to lead the rebuild
One pillar of that rebuild is already through the door. Leon Goretzka completed his free transfer to Villa on Thursday after leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
The Germany international arrives with a heavyweight résumé: seven Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown from his time in Munich.
“He is a winner. He is a very competitive player – a good player to add into our squad,” Emery said. “He is versatile and arrives fit and training well. Hopefully on Monday he can be on the field.”
Watkins heads for a new life in Saudi Arabia, Villa turn to Jackson and Goretzka, and Emery leans into another rebuild. The question now is not what they have lost, but how quickly this new-look side can start hitting those same heights again.
