It feels like he’s been a Villan forever at this point.
But it is now officially four years to the day since Ollie Watkins signed for Aston Villa, and what a four years it has been!
The now-28-year-0ld had not yet played a minute of Premier League football when he reunited with then-manager Dean Smith in 2020, moving from Brentford in a club record £28m deal. That, of course, has now been surpassed, but it’s safe to say Watkins has paid back the fee, and then some.
He scored on his debut in a 3-1 EFL Cup win away at Burton Albion, before opening his league account for the club in stunning fashion a few weeks later, scoring a perfect hat-trick in a famous 7-2 win against defending champions Liverpool at Villa Park. Covid-era football at its weirdest.
Since then the striker has gone from strength to strength, just as the club has. Having established himself as a first-choice pick up top, Watkins took his game to a whole new level under Unai Emery, becoming the first Aston Villa player to score 25 or more goals in a season (27 in total) since Dwight Yorke in 1995/96, spearheading his side’s qualification for the Champions League.
His performances earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year, as well as further England honours. Who could forget that semi-final winner against the Netherlands at EURO 2024?
Watkins has surprisingly yet to score in three outings so far this season, but it appears to be only matter of time before Villa’s main man heats up.
What a signing, what a player.
