Unai Emery revealed that Ollie Watkins had apologised after choosing not to represent Aston Villa on Sunday, while the manager delivered a heartfelt farewell to the outgoing forward.
The 30-year-old is due to travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday to finalise a £51m transfer to Al-Hilal. Villa, meanwhile, are preparing to complete a £65m deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson as his successor.
Emery commended the England international for his conduct throughout his time at Villa and confirmed that both the coaching staff and players had accepted his apology for withdrawing from the Brighton fixture.
Watkins departs as Villa’s leading Premier League goalscorer, having found the net 91 times. He recorded 108 goals across all competitions after joining from Brentford for £28m in 2020.
Emery said Watkins admitted after the Brighton game that his decision had been a mistake and expressed regret. Although the manager believed he had acted incorrectly, the apology was accepted by everyone in the squad.
The Villa manager described Watkins’ attitude and dedication as exceptional, adding that he valued him as a person as much as a footballer. Their farewell ended with a long embrace and an emotional response.
Emery added that the club must now begin a fresh chapter with Nicolas Jackson.
Villa have reached an agreement to sign Jackson and are working to register the Senegal international in time for Monday’s home match against Arsenal.
Watkins joins several senior players who have left Villa this summer. Emery called on supporters to trust the club’s plans despite losing a number of important members of the team that enjoyed a successful 2025-26 campaign.
Emery explained that the club made these choices because its leadership considered them beneficial for Villa’s future.
He acknowledged that Villa do not aspire to become a selling club but stressed the need to act responsibly, particularly when receiving substantial offers such as £51m for a 30-year-old Watkins and £50m for 28-year-old Ezri Konsa.
According to Emery, the progress made by several players over the previous year created valuable transfer opportunities, making the decision to sell them the correct course for the club.
He said Villa must reshape the squad quickly and asked fans to understand the club’s approach and the reasoning behind its decisions.
As part of that rebuilding process, Leon Goretzka joined Villa on a free transfer on Thursday following his departure from Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
During his time with Bayern, the midfielder collected seven Bundesliga championships and lifted the Champions League trophy.
Emery called Goretzka a proven winner and an intensely competitive footballer who will strengthen Villa’s squad.
He also highlighted the midfielder’s versatility and confirmed that he had arrived in good physical condition and was performing well in training, raising hopes that he could feature on Monday.
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