Ollie Watkins Completes £50m Move to Al-Hilal Amidst Villa Reshuffle
Aston Villa offloads five key players following Europa League triumph, reportedly eyes new centre-back.
Sarah Connor
Ollie Watkins has completed a significant move to Al-Hilal from Aston Villa for a reported £50 million.
Watkins, with 91 goals, departs as the club's record Premier League scorer, having guided Aston Villa to Europa League victory last season.
His transfer to Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal neared £51 million; Aston Villa also sold Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, and Emiliano Martínez during the current transfer window.
The Villa side that won last season’s Europa League and qualified for the 2026-27 Champions League has been almost completely broken up this summer.
There is no guarantee these recruits will hit the ground running in the Premier League.
Aston Villa is reportedly on the cusp of signing a new centre-back, with a long-term contract understood to be in the offing for the prospective new defender.
A medical has already been scheduled for the centre-back; Taylor Harwood-Bellis has allegedly been discussed at Manchester United, though a proper pursuit never materialized.
The club is also reportedly pursuing Marc Casado, who is understood to be surplus to requirements at Barcelona.
Casado will reportedly cost around £25 million, with Saudi Pro League teams Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli having offered £34 million for his signature.
Marc Casado has rejected those offers in favor of staying in Europe, despite teams in Turkey also trying to secure his signature.
The 24-year-old Marc Casado is reportedly keen on the move to Villa, but documents are yet to be exchanged to complete the deal.
There is no guarantee these recruits will hit the ground running in the Premier League.
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