Ollie Watkins Departs Aston Villa for Al Hilal; Harwood-Bellis Deal Agreed

Ollie Watkins has finalized his significant transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi club Al Hilal for a reported £50 million. This move concludes his six-year tenure at Villa Park, during which he amassed an impressive record of 108 goals in 278 appearances across all competitions.

Watkins' final contribution for Aston Villa was instrumental in their Europa League final victory against Freiburg, ending a 44-year European trophy drought for the club.

In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, Watkins expressed his gratitude, stating, "Six amazing years has come to an end. Thank you for the amazing memories and always supporting me through highs and lows. Once a villain, always a villain." He further conveyed the difficulty of saying goodbye, acknowledging the club's significant impact on his life both on and off the pitch.

Earlier, manager Unai Emery had alluded to Watkins' absence from a match, noting that the striker had apologized to his teammates for missing a game due to a mistake. Emery described Watkins as a "fantastic guy" and mentioned a tearful farewell, stating, "I told him 'bye', with a huge hug and a small cry."

Aston Villa has already moved to fill the void left by Watkins, securing the services of Nicolas Jackson on a club-record deal, potentially rising to £65 million.

Villa Agree Harwood-Bellis Deal

In parallel developments, Aston Villa has reached an agreement in principle with Southampton for the transfer of centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis. The deal is reportedly valued at a £30 million package, comprising a guaranteed £25 million fee and an additional £5 million in add-ons. Final details are currently being ironed out between the clubs.

The 24-year-old defender has made 134 appearances for Southampton since joining from Manchester City and has earned one cap for England. Harwood-Bellis is expected to help bolster Villa's defense, particularly in the wake of Ezri Konsa's earlier move to Arsenal.