Aston Villa reject third Al-Hilal bid for Ollie Watkins as £38m offer rebuffed

Aston Villa rejected Al-Hilal’s £38million bid for Ollie Watkins on Tuesday night, the third offer from the Saudi club to be turned down this summer, with personal terms between the 30-year-old and Al-Hilal reportedly already in place.

Villa are bracing for a further improved offer after standing firm on their valuation of the England striker, who has two years remaining on the contract he signed at Villa Park in 2024. Watkins did not feature in pre-season and missed Villa’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain last week, having been granted additional time off following the World Cup — a break also extended to teammates Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martinez, both of whom are also the subject of transfer speculation.

The pursuit comes at a turbulent moment for Villa, who have already sold Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne this summer for a combined £159.5million. The club are simultaneously looking to strengthen ahead of their return to the Champions League, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka set to arrive on loan from West Ham and a £30million deal agreed with Parma for Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

Watkins scored 21 goals last season and attracted interest from Manchester United and Arsenal in 2024, while Fenerbahce explored a move earlier this summer before switching their focus to Romelu Lukaku. Al-Hilal, managed by former Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi, recently signed Crysencio Summerville from West Ham in a deal worth up to £60million and are looking to move on Darwin Nunez.

At the World Cup, Watkins played a limited role as England’s second-choice striker behind Harry Kane, featuring for 12 minutes against Panama in the group stage and starting the second half of England’s third-place play-off win over France.

Whether Watkins will be available when Villa open their Premier League season away to Brighton on Sunday remains unclear. Villa’s first home fixture is against Arsenal on Monday, 31 August — one day before the transfer window closes.