Watkins apologised for refusing to play, says Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reveals Ollie Watkins apologised for refusing to play against Brighton ahead of a £51m move to Al-Hilal.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Ollie Watkins refused to play against Brighton prior to his transfer
- The striker is set to complete a £51m move to Saudi club Al-Hilal
- Aston Villa have agreed a £65m deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson
- Leon Goretzka joined Villa on a free transfer from Bayern Munich
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has revealed that Ollie Watkins apologised to him and the squad after the striker refused to play in Sunday's Premier League fixture against Brighton.
The 30-year-old forward is expected in Saudi Arabia on Friday to finalise a £51m transfer to Al-Hilal. Watkins originally joined Villa from Brentford for £28m in 2020 and departs as the club's record Premier League goalscorer with 91 goals, part of 108 strikes across all competitions.
Emery praised the England international's overall conduct during his time at Villa Park, confirming that both the coaching staff and the players have accepted the apology after Watkins admitted his mistake.
"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,"
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
To fill the void left by Watkins, Villa have agreed a deal with Chelsea for Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson for £65m, with the club attempting to register him in time for Monday's home match against Arsenal. Meanwhile, midfielder Leon Goretzka completed his move to Villa on a free transfer on Thursday following the expiration of his contract with Bayern Munich, where he won seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League.
Aston Villa's aggressive squad restructuring during the 2026 summer transfer window highlights a calculated business strategy under Unai Emery to balance squad turnover while maintaining competitiveness. While losing a pivotal figure like Watkins is significant, acquiring proven elite winners like Goretzka underscores the club's long-term developmental ambitions.
Source: BBC Sport
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