Departing Watkins apologised for refusing to play - Emery

WHAT HAPPENED
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said striker Ollie Watkins apologised after refusing to play in the club’s match against Brighton. Emery described the apology as accepted by the manager and squad and paid an emotional tribute as Watkins prepares to leave the club.

Watkins, 30, is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday to complete a reported £51m move to Al-Hilal. Villa are also working to bring in Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson as his replacement and hope to have Jackson registered in time for Monday’s home game against Arsenal.

KEY CONTEXT
- Watkins joined Villa from Brentford in 2020 for £28m and has become the club’s leading Premier League scorer, with 91 league goals and 108 in all competitions for Villa.
- Villa have undergone significant turnover this summer: Watkins is the latest experienced player to depart following a campaign described in the source as a successful 2025-26 season.
- As part of the squad rebuild, Leon Goretzka completed a free transfer to Villa on Thursday after leaving Bayern Munich; the midfielder won seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with Bayern.

WHY IT MATTERS
Watkins’ exit represents the loss of Villa’s top Premier League scorer and a key attacking figure built up since 2020, so how quickly the club replaces him will shape their immediate competitiveness. Emery has framed the sales as part of a wider strategy of player development and sales, and the club’s ability to register Nicolas Jackson and integrate new signings such as Goretzka will be critical in the short term.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Ollie Watkins does complete the move to Al-Hilal as expected on Friday (this remains reported expectation in the source).
- Whether Villa finalise and register Nicolas Jackson in time for the Arsenal match on Monday, as the club is currently attempting to do.
- How quickly Leon Goretzka is integrated into the squad and whether he is available for selection on Monday, as Emery indicated he hopes.

KEY FACTS
- Watkins apologised to Emery and teammates after making himself unavailable for the Brighton game.
- Watkins is 30 and is expected to move to Al-Hilal for a reported £51m.
- He is Aston Villa’s record Premier League scorer with 91 league goals and 108 overall since his 2020 transfer from Brentford for £28m.
- Villa are pursuing Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, with the club trying to register him ahead of Monday’s Arsenal fixture.
- Leon Goretzka joined Villa on a free transfer after leaving Bayern Munich; he won seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with Bayern.