Emery wishes Watkins well in Saudi Arabia as Aston Villa begin ‘new chapter’ with Jackson

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says he hopes Ollie Watkins enjoys his move to Saudi Arabia, with the England striker on the verge of joining Al-Hilal and Nicolas Jackson set to arrive from Chelsea as his replacement.

Villa face reigning champions Arsenal in the second round of the Premier League on Monday, 31 August, with Watkins expected to depart after becoming one of the club’s most important attacking players since joining from Brentford in 2020.

Watkins was left out of Villa’s opening match of the season, a 4-0 defeat by Brighton, but later returned to training and apologised to Emery and his team-mates.

The striker has since travelled to Saudi Arabia to complete preparations for his move to Al-Hilal. He is expected to sign a four-year contract with the Saudi club.

Speaking at his news conference, Emery said Watkins had apologised for his behaviour following the match against Brighton and praised the forward’s conduct during his time at Villa.

“Watkins, I apologise for what happened after the Brighton match. He made a mistake, but his behaviour with the club and with me was always good. He is a wonderful man,” said Emery.

“I said goodbye to Watkins with a big hug and tears. I wish him good luck in Saudi Arabia, and he has been replaced.”

Watkins joined Villa from Brentford in 2020 and quickly established himself as a central figure in the club’s attack. Across 278 appearances, he scored 108 goals and provided 47 assists, earning a place among Aston Villa’s leading players.

Emery believes Jackson’s arrival will mark the beginning of a fresh phase for the club’s forward line.

“Now we will have a new chapter with Nicolas Jackson,” he said.

Jackson, a Senegal international, is expected to join Villa for £60m. He spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich after moving to Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023.

The 34 appearances made by Jackson for Bayern last season came in all competitions. He scored 11 goals and supplied four assists for the German giants.

Villa’s meeting with Arsenal will be their second league fixture of the campaign and comes after their heavy defeat by Brighton. Watkins’ absence from that match, followed by his apology and subsequent return to training, preceded his move to Saudi Arabia.

The transfer will bring an end to Watkins’ spell at Villa, during which he became a regular source of goals and assists while helping establish himself as one of the club’s modern attacking figures.

His departure leaves Villa looking to Jackson to provide the attacking presence required for the new season, with Emery’s side preparing for their first match against the reigning Premier League champions.