Aston Villa held the line for weeks. In the end, they took the money.
Al-Hilal will pay £51.7m for Watkins, with the 30-year-old expected to travel to Riyadh this week. The Saudi Pro League side had seen an earlier €45m bid rejected before Villa softened their stance.
The resolution followed a standoff that broke into the open on the opening weekend of the 2026-27 Premier League. Watkins made himself unavailable for the trip to Brighton, and Villa were beaten 4-0.
Asked at the Amex Stadium why his striker was not in the squad, Unai Emery refused to explain.
Read also: Albers backs Verstappen for a Monza surprise. Marko has already stopped betting
“Ask him. I only can answer it by silence,” Emery said.
“This question is for him. Can you call him and make a question to him?”
Six years, more than 100 goals
Watkins joined Villa from Brentford in 2020 and leaves having scored more than 100 goals for the club. He made 47 appearances in all competitions in 2025/26, was part of the squad that won the Europa League and returned Villa to the Champions League, and made England’s squad at the 2026 World Cup.
Jackson steps into the shirt
Villa were not willing to move on Watkins until they had cover in place. That cover came from Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have agreed to sell Nicolas Jackson in a transfer that could reach £65m.
Read also: Hamilton says Ferrari's overnight tweaks, not strategy, broke his Zandvoort weekend
The Senegal international worked with Emery at Villarreal before Chelsea signed him in 2023. He spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, where an obligation-to-buy clause worth £56.25m was not triggered because he did not reach the required number of appearances.
The pipeline keeps running
Watkins follows another Premier League name into Al-Hilal this summer. The Riyadh club completed a £60m signing of Netherlands winger Crysencio Summerville from West Ham on 24 July, with the 24-year-old signing a four-year deal.
Watkins is expected to complete his medical in Riyadh within days.
Read also: Fury admits the Ngannou fight was 'play': no training, no preparation
