Ollie Watkins begins Al-Hilal chapter with Premier League striker history to overcome

Ollie Watkins starts his new adventure with Al-Hilal under significant expectations, but the England forward is also arriving at a club where recent Premier League imports have produced sharply contrasting results.

Al-Hilal turned to Watkins to strengthen their attack with a striker from England’s top flight. His challenge, however, extends beyond adapting to a new team and league. He must also navigate the short but compelling history of Premier League forwards who have worn the Al-Hilal shirt in recent years.

The club’s previous experience began with Aleksandar Mitrovic, who arrived from Fulham and quickly became one of Al-Hilal’s most influential players. It continued with Darwin Nunez, a major signing from Liverpool who was unable to deliver the expected impact before leaving on loan.

Mitrovic came to Saudi Arabia with extensive experience of English football, yet needed very little time to demonstrate why Al-Hilal had chosen him. In his first season, the Serbia striker produced an outstanding campaign, scoring 28 goals in the Roshn Saudi League and finishing second in the competition’s scoring standings.

He also made a significant contribution as Al-Hilal won four domestic trophies during his time at the club.

Mitrovic’s success appeared to strengthen the case for recruiting another forward from the Premier League. But when he left in the summer of 2025, after suffering an injury that prompted wide debate at the time about its possible effect on his future, Al-Hilal began searching for a replacement. Their choice was Nunez.

The Uruguay international’s arrival from Liverpool was a high-profile deal by any measure. Expectations were raised by his reputation in European football and the Premier League, with many supporters believing he could lead Al-Hilal’s attack.

Instead, his spell did not develop as anticipated. Nunez struggled to find the consistency required, his influence gradually declined and he eventually fell out of favour before joining Al-Diriyah on loan.

That leaves Watkins facing a particularly demanding examination. Mitrovic represents an emphatically successful precedent, while Nunez’s stay ended sooner than expected. The England striker must show that joining Al-Hilal from the Premier League does not automatically lead to either of those outcomes.

Supporters are unlikely to view Watkins simply as a new arrival. Comparisons with Mitrovic and Nunez will follow him, especially because Al-Hilal paid a substantial fee to secure his services. As a result, the margin for error will be considerably smaller.

Watkins does possess qualities that could help him make an immediate impression. He has long experience of the Premier League, is effective at running behind defenders and can contribute to the press. He is also capable of attacking the penalty area and operating in a fast, transition-based system, attributes that may fit the approach of Italian manager Simone Inzaghi.

He will also join a different Al-Hilal side from the teams represented by Mitrovic and Nunez. Watkins will have new attacking options around him, including Gabriel Martinelli and Crysencio Summerville. That could provide him with greater support and ensure the responsibility for creating opportunities is not placed on one player alone.

Yet an abundance of attacking talent can bring its own complications. Watkins will need to establish an understanding with his team-mates quickly and learn precisely how Inzaghi wants the side to play. His success will not be determined by the quality of the names around him, but by how effectively he turns that quality into goals.

Watkins therefore arrives at Al-Hilal carrying more than the responsibility of replacing a departed striker. Mitrovic left behind impressive numbers and a collection of trophies; Nunez left an unfinished story. The next chapter now belongs to Watkins.

Only his goals on the pitch will decide whether he can deliver another Mitrovic-style success or follows the path taken by Nunez.