Ollie Watkins apologised to his Aston Villa teammates after making himself unavailable for the club’s Premier League fixture against Brighton, manager Unai Emery has disclosed.
The 30-year-old England striker is now set to leave Villa after five years at the club, with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal closing in on a reported £51 million deal for his transfer.
Emery said Watkins acknowledged his mistake after the Brighton game and apologised to both the manager and his teammates.
According to the Villa manager, the apology was accepted by the squad, bringing an end to the immediate controversy surrounding the striker’s decision to miss the match.
Watkins leaves Aston Villa as the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer. Since arriving from Brentford for £28 million in 2020, he has scored 91 Premier League goals and 108 across all competitions.
Emery spoke warmly about the striker’s time at Villa, praising his attitude and professionalism during his spell at the club.
The Spanish manager also appeared emotional when discussing Watkins’ departure, describing him as an outstanding person as well as a successful footballer.
With Watkins heading for Saudi Arabia, Villa have moved quickly to strengthen their attack.
The club have agreed a £65 million deal with Chelsea for Nicolas Jackson, with Villa working to complete his registration ahead of Monday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal.
Emery said Jackson’s arrival represents the start of a new phase for the club following the departure of several experienced players.
The manager also defended Villa’s transfer decisions, insisting that the club had acted with its long-term interests in mind despite losing key members of the squad.
Villa have also added experience to their midfield through the free transfer of Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich.
The Germany international arrives with seven Bundesliga titles and a Champions League winners’ medal, and Emery believes his experience, competitiveness and versatility will strengthen the team.
He also indicated that Goretzka could be involved against Arsenal if his registration is completed in time.