Unai Emery Discusses Ollie Watkins' Aston Villa Departure
Unai Emery admits Ollie Watkins refused to play for Aston Villa on Sunday. He also reveals the striker apologised – and left with hugs, tears and a £51m move to Al-Hilal on the table.
The Villa manager cut an emotional but pragmatic figure as he addressed the departure of the club’s record Premier League scorer and the rapid rebuild already under way.
Watkins’ apology and goodbye
Watkins, 30, made himself unavailable for selection against Brighton, a decision that stunned many inside the club given his status and influence. Emery did not hide from it.
“He told us after the Brighton match he was sorry and that he had made a mistake. He was wrong, but we accepted it. The players as well,” Emery said.
There was no public punishment, no dramatic stand-off. Just a firm line, then a farewell.
“His commitment and his behaviour was fantastic. He's a fantastic guy – a fantastic guy even more than a player. I told him ‘bye’ with a huge hug and with small tears.”
Watkins now heads for Saudi Arabia, expected to arrive on Friday to complete his move to Al-Hilal. Villa will bank £51m for a forward who cost £28m from Brentford in 2020 and has since rewritten their modern scoring records.
Ninety-one Premier League goals in claret and blue. One hundred and eight in all competitions. A talisman of the club’s rise under Emery, gone in a single, seismic summer.
Jackson era begins
Villa have not waited to replace him. A £65m deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is agreed, and the club are racing to have the Senegal international registered in time for Monday night’s visit of Arsenal.
“But now it's a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson,” Emery said, drawing a clear line between eras.
The message is blunt: the emotional farewell is over. The work of building the next version of Aston Villa has already started.
‘It’s crazy money’ – but Emery backs the strategy
Watkins’ exit is not an isolated case. Villa have allowed several experienced players to leave after a successful 2025-26 campaign, and the manager knows the decisions will sting supporters.
“We took decisions because it's good for the club,” Emery insisted.
“Of course, we don't want to be a club that sells players, but the responsibility is there. It's crazy [money for someone] 30 years old and £50m for Ezri Konsa [who is 28].”
That word – responsibility – keeps returning around Villa Park. The club have developed assets, driven up their value, and are now cashing in to reshape the squad.
“How we developed in the last year with some players and how we can sell some players now is completely the right decision.
“We have to rebuild the team as fast as possible. [Fans] have to accept our way and why we are taking some decisions.”
It is a clear challenge to the stands: trust the process, even when it means saying goodbye to heroes.
Goretzka arrives as a serial winner
One of the new pillars of that rebuild walked through the door on Thursday. Leon Goretzka, a free transfer after leaving Bayern Munich, brings heavyweight pedigree into the Villa midfield.
Seven Bundesliga titles. A Champions League winner. A player used to pressure, trophies and expectation.
“He is a winner. He is a very competitive player – a good player to add into our squad,” Emery said.
“He is versatile and arrives fit and training well. Hopefully on Monday he can be on the field.”
So Villa move on quickly. Watkins heads for Riyadh with records and regrets, Emery wipes away those “small tears”, and Arsenal loom on Monday night.
The question now is simple: can this new-look Villa, stripped of some of its stars but armed with fresh money and fresh blood, hit the ground running before the rebuild has even had time to settle?
