Ollie Watkins Apologizes to Aston Villa After Transfer Decision
Unai Emery revealed that Ollie Watkins apologised to his Aston Villa team-mates after refusing to play on Sunday, as the head coach delivered a heartfelt farewell to the club’s record Premier League scorer.
Watkins, 30, is expected to land in Saudi Arabia on Friday to complete a £51m move to Al-Hilal, drawing a line under a four-year spell in which he became the face – and the goals – of Villa’s resurgence under Emery.
The England striker, signed from Brentford for £28m in 2020, leaves with 91 Premier League goals for Villa and 108 in all competitions. Numbers that define an era in claret and blue.
Emery: ‘He was wrong – but we accepted it’
Watkins did not make himself available for selection against Brighton, a late twist that could easily have soured the goodbye. Emery made sure it did not.
“He told us after the Brighton match he was sorry and that he had made a mistake. He was wrong, but we accepted it. The players as well,” Emery said.
Then came the emotion.
“His commitment and his behaviour was fantastic. He’s a fantastic guy – a fantastic guy even more than a player. I told him ‘bye’ with a huge hug and with small tears.”
The embrace closes one chapter. Emery made it clear the next one is already being written.
“But now it’s a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson.”
Jackson lined up as £65m replacement
Villa have agreed a £65m deal with Chelsea for Nicolas Jackson and are pushing to have the Senegal forward registered in time for Monday night’s home clash with Arsenal.
The move underlines the scale of the rebuild. Watkins is only the latest experienced figure to depart after a season in which Villa punched hard at the top end of the Premier League and in Europe.
Emery, though, backed the club’s strategy and challenged supporters to see the bigger picture.
“We took decisions because it’s good for the club,” he said. “Of course, we don’t want to be a club that sells players, but the responsibility is there. It’s crazy [money for someone] 30 years old and £50m for Ezri Konsa [who is 28].”
For Emery, those fees are proof of progress, not regression.
“How we developed in the last year with some players and how we can sell some players now is completely the right decision,” he added. “We have to rebuild the team as fast as possible. [Fans] have to accept our way and why we are taking some decisions.”
Goretzka arrives as serial winner
Part of that rebuild arrived on Thursday. Leon Goretzka completed his free transfer to Villa after leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
His CV is heavyweight: seven Bundesliga titles, a Champions League, and years at the sharp end of European football.
“He is a winner. He is a very competitive player – a good player to add into our squad,” said Emery. “He is versatile and arrives fit and training well. Hopefully on Monday he can be on the field.”
Watkins heads for Saudi Arabia, Jackson waits in the wings, and Goretzka steps into midfield. Villa Park will look and feel different when Arsenal walk out on Monday night – the question now is how quickly Emery’s new chapter starts to deliver its own defining numbers.
