- Unai Emery says Aston Villa supporters should remember Ollie Watkins for his contribution to the club despite his imminent departure.
- Watkins is closing in on a reported £50 million move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
- The England striker scored 108 goals during his six years at Villa Park.
- Nicolas Jackson is set to replace Watkins after joining Villa from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £65 million.
- Aston Villa have been forced to sell several key players amid financial sustainability requirements.
- Emery insists the changes will not affect Villa’s ambition to compete near the top of the Premier League.
Unai Emery has urged Aston Villa fans to remember Ollie Watkins for the positive impact he made at the club as the England international prepares to leave Villa Park.
Watkins is close to completing a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a deal believed to be worth around £50 million. His departure comes after six seasons in which he established himself as one of Villa’s most important attacking players.
Watkins did not feature in Villa’s opening Premier League match against Brighton last weekend, when Emery’s depleted side suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat.
The striker’s absence came after a disagreement over his availability for the game. Emery admitted he was disappointed by the situation but said the matter had since been resolved between the pair.
The Villa manager stressed that the incident should not overshadow Watkins’ contribution to the club. The 30-year-old scored 108 goals during his time at Villa and played a key role in their progress under Emery.
“He was wrong, but we accepted it. The players as well because he always had very good behaviour and commitment with the club and with me,” Emery said.
Watkins joined Aston Villa in 2020 and quickly became a regular source of goals for the club.
His performances helped Villa qualify for the Champions League twice in the past three seasons, while he was also part of the team that ended the club’s long wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa Conference League.
Emery revealed that he had an emotional farewell with Watkins before the striker’s move. The Spaniard said the two exchanged a hug as Villa prepared to begin a new chapter without one of their leading forwards.
“I told him ‘bye’ with a huge hug and with small tears. But now it’s a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson,” Emery said.
Villa have moved quickly to find a replacement, with Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson expected to take over from Watkins in Emery’s attack.
Jackson is reportedly joining Villa for an initial £47.5 million, with a further £17.5 million available in potential add-ons. Emery is hoping the Senegal international can complete his registration in time to be available when Villa host Arsenal on Monday.
The club are also close to completing other changes to the squad. Leon Goretzka could make his Villa debut after arriving as a free agent from Bayern Munich.
Watkins is not the only senior player leaving Villa Park during a busy transfer window.
Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne have also been linked with or completed exits, leaving Emery with a significantly changed squad ahead of the new campaign.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is also expected to leave Villa and join Chelsea, adding to the list of established players departing the club.
Villa’s sales have been influenced by financial sustainability rules, forcing the club to make difficult decisions over their squad.
Despite the departures, Emery insists Aston Villa are not changing their ambitions.
The manager acknowledged that the club has a responsibility to operate within financial rules but said that does not mean Villa will stop competing for major targets.
“We don’t want to be a club to sell players, but the responsibility is there,” Emery said.
The Spaniard remains determined to keep Villa challenging for European football and competing near the top of the Premier League. He believes the arrival of new players, including Jackson, can help the club move forward despite the significant changes.
Villa will now look to recover from their disappointing defeat at Brighton when they welcome Arsenal, with Emery hoping his reshaped squad can deliver a much stronger performance.
