Aston Villa’s high-profile squad overhaul continued on Sunday as the club confirmed the departure of striker Ollie Watkins to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. The 30-year-old forward, who spent six successful years at the Midlands club, has signed a three-year deal. While official terms remain undisclosed, British media reports indicate the transfer fee reached £51 million ($69.01 million), concluding a tenure that saw Watkins become Villa’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.
Watkins leaves behind a prolific record, having netted 91 league goals and 108 in all competitions since his £28 million arrival from Brentford in 2020. His final season was particularly impactful, contributing 21 goals across all formats, including five in the Europa League to help secure a European trophy for Unai Emery’s squad. His exit follows recent friction, with Emery having previously noted that the striker apologized for making himself unavailable for the club’s Premier League season opener.
The striker is part of a significant exodus at Villa Park this summer, joining a list of departures that includes Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, and Youri Tielemans. Simultaneously, the club confirmed that World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has moved to Chelsea. The 33-year-old signed a three-year contract following a deal valued at approximately £7.5 million ($10 million).
Reflecting on his move to Stamford Bridge, Martinez stated, “I’m all passion and I play with my heart. I will give 100 per cent every game, every training session to make the club, my teammates and the supporters proud.” The Argentine goalkeeper, who made over 250 appearances for Villa since joining in 2020, returns to London where he previously spent time at Arsenal.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is looking to Martinez to stabilize the goalkeeping position, which has faced scrutiny in recent years. Current Chelsea No. 1 Robert Sanchez recently drew criticism following the team’s 3-2 victory over Fulham in their Premier League opener. Alonso hopes the arrival of the experienced Argentine will provide a definitive solution to the club’s ongoing challenges in goal. The report also notes that who had two years left on his Villa contract, financial details were not disclosed but British media reported the Saudi Pro League side paid £51 million ($69.01 million) for the England international. The report also notes that meanwhile, Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez joined Chelsea from fellow Premier League outfit Aston Villa, the London-based club announced on Sunday. The report also notes that where he began his professional career with Arsenal, though he never established himself as a first-team regular there, martinez returns to London.
