Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins joins Saudi's Al Hilal on 3-year deal

Al Hilal have signed Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, the two clubs announced on ‌Sunday, as the 30-year-old striker ended a successful ​six-year spell ⁠with the Midlands club where ‌he became their ‌top scorer in the Premier League.Financial details were not disclosed but British media reported the ‌Saudi Pro League side paid £51 million ($69.01 million) for ⁠the England international, who had two years left on his Villa contract.Watkins signed a three-year contract as Al Hilal acquired a proven goalscorer after he scored 21 goals in all competitions ​last season, including five goals in the ‌Europa League as he helped deliver a European trophy to Unai Emery’s side.However, an exit ⁠was on the cards before the transfer window closed, with Emery revealing the striker had apologised for ​making ‌himself unavailable for the club’s Premier League ‌opener.Watkins scored 91 Premier League goals for Villa, a club record, and 108 in all competitions since ‌arriving from ‌Brentford for £28 million in ⁠2020.The striker is among a string ‌of departures from Villa in the close season following the exits of key ⁠players such as Morgan Rogers and ​Emi Martinez (both Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal) and Youri Tielemans (Manchester United).Meanwhile, Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez joined Chelsea from fellow Premier League outfit Aston Villa, the London-based club announced on Sunday.The 33-year-old has signed a three-year contract with Chelsea, following a deal worth £7.5 million ($10 million), according to British media.”I’m all passion and I play with my heart. I will give 100 per cent every game, every training session to make the club, my teammates and the supporters proud,” Martinez said in a statement published on Chelsea’s website.Martinez returns to London, where he began his professional career with Arsenal, though he never established himself as a first-team regular there.Following a series of loan spells away from the Emirates Stadium, Martinez joined Villa in 2020 and went on to make over 250 appearances.He was a key player in Unai Emery’s Europa League-winning squad from last season.With the arrival of the flamboyant shotstopper, new manager Xabi Alonso will hope he has finally found the solution to Chelsea’s difficulties in that position in recent years.Robert Sanchez, the current custodian of Chelsea’s No. 1 shirt, once again came under criticism following a 3-2 victory over local rivals Fulham to open their Premier League campaign on Monday.Agencies