Watkins apologised for refusing to play - Emery

What the report says

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said Ollie Watkins apologised after making himself unavailable for Sunday’s match against Brighton, as the club prepares for a major forward-line reshuffle. According to Nile Post’s sourced report from BBC Sport, Watkins is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday to complete a £51m transfer to Al-Hilal.

Emery said he and the squad accepted the striker’s apology and described the conversation as emotional, while also praising Watkins’ commitment during his Villa career. Watkins joined Villa from Brentford in 2020 for £28m and leaves as the club’s record Premier League scorer, with 91 league goals and 108 in all competitions.

The reported move comes as Villa look set to bring in Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson for £65m as Watkins’ replacement. Emery said the club has made difficult decisions for its long-term benefit and urged supporters to accept the rebuilding plan, noting that Villa are trying to reshape the squad quickly after several experienced departures.

The broader context is a busy summer for Villa, who are balancing player sales with new arrivals as they aim to stay competitive. Separate background knowledge: clubs often face financial and squad-planning pressures during major transfer windows, especially when replacing a high-scoring forward.