Ollie Watkins Refused To Play For Aston Villa Last Sunday — Then Apologised With Tears Before His £51M Saudi Move 😭

Stop everything, because Aston Villa's record Premier League goalscorer just left the club in the MESSIEST way possible — and honestly? We are still processing.

Ollie Watkins refused to play for Villa against Brighton last Sunday, then apologised to the squad before jetting off to Saudi Arabia for a £51m move to Al-Hilal. Yes, really.

Manager Unai Emery dropped the bombshell on Friday, revealing that the 30-year-old striker made himself unavailable for the weekend match — but then had the decency to own up to his mistake, according to BBC Sport.

He Said Sorry (With Tears) 😢

"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 told reporters.

But here's where it gets EMOTIONAL: Emery said he and Watkins shared "a huge hug and small tears" when they said goodbye. The Spanish manager called Watkins "a fantastic guy — a fantastic guy even more than a player."

We are NOT okay.

Watkins leaves Villa as their all-time top Premier League scorer with 91 goals, part of an overall tally of 108 in all competitions since signing from Brentford for £28m back in 2020. That's quite the return on investment.

The Tea ☕

• Ollie Watkins refused to play for Aston Villa against Brighton last Sunday
• He apologised to Emery and the squad after the match, admitting he was wrong
• He's joining Al-Hilal for £51m and is expected in Saudi Arabia on Friday
• Villa are replacing him with Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson for a whopping £65m
• Emery got emotional, sharing a hug and "small tears" with the departing striker

Villa's Big Rebuild

Watkins is the latest experienced player to leave Villa this summer as the club cashes in on their successful 2025-26 season. They also sold defender Ezri Konsa for £50m despite him being 28.

Emery defended the strategy, telling fans they need to accept the club's decisions even if it hurts.

"We took decisions because it's good for the club," he said. "It's crazy [money for someone] 30 years old and £50m for Ezri Konsa [who is 28]."

Villa are trying to register Nicolas Jackson in time for Monday's visit of Arsenal — talk about a quick turnaround. The Senegal striker will have HUGE boots to fill.

And Then It Got Even Busier

As if that wasn't enough transfer chaos, Villa also completed the signing of Leon Goretzka on a free transfer from Bayern Munich on Thursday. The German midfielder won seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with Bayern, so at least there's some serious pedigree coming in.

"He is a winner. He is a very competitive player," Emery said. "Hopefully on Monday he can be on the field."

So Villa are losing their record scorer who refused to play his last match, but bringing in a £65m replacement striker AND a Champions League-winning midfielder. This transfer window is WILD.

The big question: Was Watkins wrong to refuse to play, or can you blame a guy for protecting a £51m move? And will Nicolas Jackson live up to that massive price tag?

Sound off below 👇

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Sources:

• BBC Sport: Watkins apologised for refusing to play - Emery