Aston Villa have agreed to sell Ollie Watkins to Al Hilal after accepting a package worth up to €60.4 million for the England striker, bringing one of the summer’s biggest Premier League transfer sagas to the brink of completion.
Villa have accepted a guaranteed €58.4 million from the Saudi Pro League club, with another €2 million available in add-ons. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported that all details of the agreement have been settled, while Sky Sports puts the deal at approximately £50 million.
Watkins is now flying to Saudi Arabia with his representatives to complete the transfer and is expected to undergo a medical before signing his Al Hilal contract.
Villa finally give green light to Watkins exit
The agreement represents a significant change in Villa’s position after the club rejected earlier approaches from Al Hilal.
Sky Sports reported last week that Villa had turned down an opening €45 million (£38.5m) bid, despite Watkins being keen on moving to Saudi Arabia.
Al Hilal continued negotiations and eventually returned with an offer Villa were prepared to accept.
The final package consists of €58.4 million guaranteed plus €2 million in potential bonuses, according to Romano.
Villa manager Unai Emery has now confirmed Watkins’ impending departure, praising the striker’s contribution to the club despite a difficult end to his time at Villa Park.
The 30-year-old had pushed for the move and was absent from Villa’s opening Premier League fixture against Brighton.
Emery said Watkins later apologised over the situation surrounding that game before the pair shared an emotional farewell.
Watkins leaves as Villa’s Premier League record scorer
Watkins departs after six years at Villa Park, having joined from Brentford in 2020.
He scored 108 goals in 278 appearances across all competitions and leaves as Aston Villa’s all-time leading Premier League scorer with 91 goals.
His goals played a major role in Villa’s resurgence under Emery, including their return to Champions League football and Europa League triumph last season.
Watkins scored 16 Premier League goals during the 2025-26 campaign and was subsequently included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.
The striker had been under contract at Villa until 2028, allowing the club to command a significant fee despite him turning 30 this year.
Nicolas Jackson arrives as replacement
Villa have moved quickly to replace Watkins by completing a deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.
The agreement for the Senegal international is worth up to £65 million, comprising an initial £47.5 million payment and £17.5 million in potential add-ons.
Jackson previously worked with Emery at Villarreal and arrives five years younger than Watkins as Villa undertake a significant overhaul of their squad.
Sky Sports reports that Villa’s ability to secure a replacement was an important factor in their decision to sanction Watkins’ departure.
Watkins’ transfer is now awaiting the final medical and contractual formalities in Saudi Arabia. With the fee agreed and the striker travelling to complete the move, his six-year Aston Villa career is effectively at an end.
