NEWS · 28 Aug 2026
Ollie Watkins bids farewell as Aston Villa’s record Premier League scorer
Ollie Watkins has confirmed his departure from Aston Villa, where he became the club’s all‑time Premier League goalscorer. The striker also issued a public apology after being dropped from a recent squad, explaining his decision to step away from the club.
Ollie Watkins has announced that he will leave Aston Villa at the end of the season, ending a five‑year spell in which he scored 83 Premier League goals, the most by any player in the club’s history.
In a statement released after the club’s final match, Watkins apologised for refusing to play in a recent fixture, citing personal reasons for his decision to step away from the squad.
Watkins joined Villa in 2018 and quickly established himself as a key goal‑scorer, netting 24 Premier League goals in his debut season and helping the team secure a top‑ten finish.
His departure will leave a noticeable gap in Villa’s attacking options, and fans will no doubt miss his consistent finishing and work rate in the final third.
While the club has not yet named a replacement, Villa’s coaching staff are expected to look for options in the transfer market to fill the void left by the record scorer.
Watkins’ next move remains undecided, and the Premier League transfer window will be the window in which a new club can be found for the veteran striker.