Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has spoken out following the crushing 4-0 defeat to Brighton at the start of the Premier League, indirectly addressing the absence of top forward Ollie Watkins amid reported interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
The 30-year-old striker was left out of the squad for the season opener, despite Emery having confirmed earlier in the week that official bids had been received from Saudi Arabia. When asked if his absence was a personal decision, the Spanish coach was quizzed during Match of the Day:
This question is for him. You can call him yourself and try to get his answer. The players who were here wanted to play, and we have two forwards with minor injuries. All questions about Watkins should be directed personally to him.
Team captain John McGinn also spoke about the difficult situation within the dressing room during an interview with Sky Sports:
The situation is tricky. He has been an incredible player and a record goalscorer, but my duty as captain is to get the maximum out of those players who were on the field today. It’s never easy coming here. I’m proud of the lads who fought for the club today.
The potential departure of Watkins could trigger a major exodus, with the squad that brought European glory to Birmingham by winning the Europa League over Freiburg in May now at risk. Villa could lose up to six key players from that final starting eleven before the transfer window shuts. Ezri Konsa has already moved to Arsenal, while goal-scorers from Istanbul, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, both changed clubs last month (with Rogers' £117 million move to Chelsea breaking records for English players), and Lucas Digne was sold to PSG. Additionally, there are goalkeeper concerns: Emiliano Martinez missed the match due to a collapsed transfer to Juventus, with Dzion Suzuki being signed as his replacement. If the Argentinian is transferred, only Matt Cash, Pau Torres, Viktor Lindelof, John McGinn, and Emiliano Buendia will remain from the starting eleven in the European final.
This fire sale of key assets is driven by strict financial necessities. The club must adhere to UEFA regulations regarding squad cost ratios (SCR), which limits spending on wages, transfer fees, and agency commissions to 70% of football income. Villa faced fines from the European Union of £9.5 million last year and £19.4 million in June (of which £12.9 million were suspended following a settlement). For the reporting period ending June 30, 2025, the club registered a net profit of £17 million, but the previous two financial years saw losses of £119.6 million and £85.4 million respectively.
In total, through transfers of John Duran (£71 million), Douglas Luiz (£42.5 million), Jacob Ramsey (£40 million), and Moussa Diaby (£50 million), the Birmingham side amassed substantial funds in past years, netting around £212 million this summer alone. They’ve also benefited from academy products: Jaden Philogene, Cameron Archer, and Aaron Ramsey, who was sold to Burnley for £12 million.
Discussing the financial pressures and necessary squad overhaul, a former top executive of Aston Villa remarked to BBC Sport:
It’s a forced measure due to the regulations. Financial fair play and cost control issues are well known. It seems a bit unfair that the club's ambitions are being artificially restrained at this level, but the rules have sparked a colossal rotation of the squad. Some departures are dictated by financial limits, while others are based on the players’ demands. All of this creates a massive challenge for Emery, as attempting to replace so many leaders at once is an incredibly tough task.
Villa’s new direction, under Roberto Olabe, focuses on rejuvenating the squad. The club successfully settled a FIFA dispute over the registration of 17-year-old Bryan Majo, whose goal in the Super Cup against PSG showcased his high potential. Alongside him, they’ve bolstered the squad with midfielder Joao Gomes, sent off in his debut against Brighton, as well as record signing Johan Manzambi and defender Matteo Ruggeri. To ease the financial burden, Aston Villa is arranging loans with an obligation to buy—specifically, Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea and Aaron Wan-Bissaka from West Ham—as well as negotiating for Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis after an initial £18 million bid was rejected.
