Ollie Watkins joins Al-Hilal for nearly €60m

Al-Hilal have secured Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa for a fee close to €60 million, taking the England international centre-forward away from the Premier League club. The move concerns a 30-year-old striker whose recorded market value at Aston Villa was €25 million.

Watkins joined Aston Villa from Brentford during the 2020-21 season for €34 million. Before that, he moved from Exeter City to Brentford in 2017-18 for €7.22 million. His earlier career also included transfers between Weston-super-M. and Exeter City during the 2014-15 season.

The Al-Hilal move therefore represents the largest listed fee in Watkins’ transfer history. It also places a player valued at €25 million in a deal reported at nearly two and a half times that figure. Watkins’ position is centre-forward, and his nationality is English.

His player record includes muscle injury and knee problems. No further detail is provided on the timing or status of either issue. The recruitment gives Al-Hilal an experienced attacking option, while Aston Villa lose a striker who had been part of their squad since the 2020-21 campaign.