Ollie Watkins’ Wife Ellie Shares Emotional Farewell to Aston Villa as England Star Excels in Al-Hilal Debut

ELLIE, the spouse of OLLIE WATKINS, struggled to hold back tears as she shared an emotional farewell to Aston Villa following their move to Saudi Arabia.

Watkins, 30, has signed with Al-Hilal after a remarkable six-year tenure at Villa, where he netted 108 goals and delivered 47 assists across 278 matches, including appearances in the Champions League and a Europa League win.

The departure from Villa Park came with some controversy, as he declined to play in the Premier League opener against Brighton, leading to Unai Emery’s team suffering a 4-0 loss in a disappointing start .

Nevertheless, the England international returned to express his apologies to Villa manager Emery prior to confirming his move to the Middle East, eventually posting a heartfelt farewell video for the fans.

Ellie, 30, expressed her emotions after she, her husband, and their children Amara, 4, and Marley, 3, arrived in Riyadh.

In a TikTok video, she fought back tears while contemplating the difficulties of leaving their life in the UK.

Ellie remarked: “I didn’t see this coming for 2026. 

“We just arrived in Riyadh last night, and I’m in disbelief at how quickly life can change, but that’s football for you.

“I’ve often said how lucky we are since we spent six years at Villa, which is quite a significant stretch in football.

“We welcomed our children there and experienced many important milestones, making it feel bittersweet. I loved my life there, formed lasting friendships, and really settled in.

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“I’m genuinely sentimental about leaving all that behind, but I’m eager for a new adventure, and I believe it will be wonderful for the kids, who will have an incredible experience.

“Once we get settled and figure everything out, we’ll be just fine. We’re looking forward to starting our new life in Saudi; these are thrilling times.

“I’m a bit nervous, but I felt like that when we moved to Birmingham, so I hope you’ll accompany me on my journey in Saudi.”

Watkins made a notable debut for Al-Hilal, scoring in a 3-0 win against Al-Ahli.

The forward has joined forces with several renowned players, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Theo Hernandez, Yassine Bounou, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Crysencio Summerville.

They are also expected to be joined by Gabriel Martinelli, who is poised to depart Arsenal.