Al-Hilal have officially announced the signing of English striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, positioning the forward as the leader of the team’s attack for the upcoming phase.
Watkins passed his medical examinations before penning his contract with the Saudi club, concluding a six-year tenure at Aston Villa during which he established himself as one of the Premier League’s top forwards.
The transfer fee is set at a fixed €58.4 million, supplemented by €2 million in performance-related add-ons, bringing the potential total package to €60.4 million.
The 30-year-old international signed a three-year contract valid until summer 2029, as part of Al-Hilal’s efforts to reshape their attacking line and bolster options for manager Simone Inzaghi.
This arrival places Karim Benzema in a challenging position, as he shifts to a backup role behind the England international—a status that could accelerate the French forward’s potential departure in search of regular starter minutes.
Watkins began his career at Exeter City, spending time on loan at Weston-super-Mare before transferring to Brentford in 2017 and subsequently moving to Aston Villa in summer 2020.
The English forward featured in 278 matches across all competitions for Aston Villa, scoring 108 goals and providing 47 assists. Last season, he registered 16 goals and 3 assists in 37 Premier League appearances, helping lead Villa to Europa League glory.
Watkins headlines Al-Hilal’s summer marquee additions alongside winger Crysencio Summerville and goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais, complemented by domestic recruitments including Sabri Dahal, Abdullah Al-Enezi, Mohammed Al-Sarnookh, Nawaf Al-Habashi, and Mohammed Mahzari.
