Ollie Watkins promises Al Hilal goals after choosing Saudi Pro League challenge

Ollie Watkins says he moved to Al Hilal to embrace a new challenge with his family and has promised supporters he will score plenty of goals after joining the Saudi Pro League from Aston Villa.

The England striker made his debut for Al Hilal as a substitute in Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Al Ahli, scoring in the win. He then started Friday’s 2-0 success against Al Shabab but was unable to find the net.

Speaking after the latest match, Watkins explained why he decided to leave the United Kingdom and move to the Roshn Saudi League.

“Personally, I wanted to take on a new challenge that was available to me and my family,” he said in comments reported by the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

“We have lived in the United Kingdom all our lives, so moving here and experiencing a new culture has been a great experience.”

Watkins said he had received a warm welcome since arriving in Saudi Arabia and described the opportunity to represent Al Hilal as a major step in his career.

“Everyone has welcomed us warmly and has been very helpful,” he said. “Playing for a club the size of Al Hilal, the biggest club in Saudi Arabia, is an incredible opportunity for me. I came here to win competitions and trophies.”

The forward also acknowledged that the conditions in Saudi Arabia would require some adjustment. He said the pace of matches could slow during periods of extreme heat but was confident he would adapt quickly.

“The rhythm of the game is very good,” Watkins said. “It is natural for the pace of the match to slow down at certain times because of the high temperatures, but the league has players of an extremely high quality and I will adapt quickly to the weather.”

Watkins used his first full match for Al Hilal to make a clear commitment to the club’s supporters.

“I promise the fans that I will score many goals,” he said.

The 29-year-old added that he had not taken part in pre-season preparations and was therefore still working to regain his full fitness and match sharpness.

“I did not take part in pre-season, so I am currently working on getting my fitness and physical rhythm back to their best,” he said. “Look out for me soon. You may see me score more than one goal in a match in the games to come.”

Watkins said Friday’s fixture was a useful step as he adjusts to a different footballing environment and builds relationships with his new team-mates.

“Today I played a full match in different conditions,” he said. “There are new players who have recently joined Al Hilal, and I am one of them. We are all currently going through a period of adaptation and developing our understanding.”

He specifically referred to the need for time to build chemistry within the squad, which also includes new arrivals such as Gabi.

“The harmony and chemistry between us will certainly improve with time,” Watkins said. “But the most important thing for us today was to win and collect all three points.”

Watkins joined Al Hilal from Aston Villa during the current summer transfer window and has started life at the Saudi club with two victories from his opening appearances.