The transfer saga surrounding Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins has concluded with a surprisingly emotional moment for the Birmingham club's manager, Unai Emery.
The 30-year-old English forward has signed for Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal for a fee of around £50 million, bringing to a close a vibrant six-year stint at Villa Park. After moving from Brentford in 2020, Watkins became the club's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, netting 91 goals.
Watkins' final moments with the team proved to be tense. He declined to take part in the opening match of the season against Brighton, which resulted in a disheartening 4-0 defeat for Villa. Following this incident, the forward publicly apologised to Emery and his teammates, acknowledging his misstep.
Nevertheless, the Spanish manager stressed that this isolated episode could not overshadow Watkins' significant contributions to the club's successes. Emery described Watkins as a "fantastic lad" and admitted he struggled to hold back his tears during their farewell embraces before the player departed for Saudi Arabia.
Watkins' goals have been pivotal in establishing the club among the elite in English football and securing their return to European competition. Now, Aston Villa embarks on a new chapter, with Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson acquired from Chelsea for £65 million to fill the void left by the Englishman.
