Ollie Watkins In Focus

Exploring Ollie Watkins’ impact at Villa Park, featuring his market value, contract terms, and key numbers for the Villans.

Primary Role

Complete Forward

System Fit

High-Line Press / Counter-Attacks

Data Insight

Verified 2025-26 Premier League Stats

Ollie Watkins

ST Aston Villa | No. 11

Estimated Value

£26M

30 Apps

9 Goals

2305 Minutes

1 Assists

Attacking Analytics

Goal Conversion

15%

Mins Per Goal

256

Big Chances Missed

Expected Goals (xG)

10.33

Villa News Season Rating 6.7 / 10

Ollie Watkins’ 2025-26 Premier League stats

Source: Villa News Last Updated: 31 March 2026

Scout Report

Technical Profile

Watkins is the definition of a modern striker, mixing expert timing, committed runs, and clinical finishing. Moreover, he is able to drop deep to link play, or run the channels to stretch defences.

Physical Threat

As well as his finishing and link up play, Watkins has good strength and excellent recovery speed – making him a great outlet for Villa.

Tactical Role

Watkins is perfect for Unai Emery’s press-from-the-front tactics. He leads by example defensively, but is also a great focal point for leading counter-attacks, and is able to exploit high lines with his intelligent running.

Ollie Watkins: Aston Villa talisman and record breaker

Pound-for-pound there are few better signings in Aston Villa’s modern history than Ollie Watkins. Signed from Brentford in September 2020 for a then club-record fee, Watkins has gone to entrench himself as an absolute legend at Villa Park. During his near six years with the Villans, Watkins has become Villa’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League era, surpassing Gabby Agbonlahor’s previous best of 74. His goals have helped Villa reach the Champions League and become regular contenders to play in Europe’s premier competition. Hopefully there will be many more years of Watkins gracing the hallowed turf at Villa Park.

Ollie Watkins in Profile: Contract Status and Market Value

Ollie Watkins: What is his market value?

Ollie Watkins may now be 30 but he still remains a hugely valuable asset at Villa Park. Transfermarkt currently has Watkins’ market value at around £26million, but his actual value – and what Villa would ask for – would be higher than this figure.

What is his contract situation at Aston Villa?

Watkins signed a new deal back in 2023 that ties him to Villa until June 2028. Should any suitors chance their arm again this summer, Villa are in a strong negotiating position, but there is little suggestion that a sale would be considered or that Watkins wants to leave.

What makes him so important to Unai Emery?

Emery loves the way Watkins leads defensively from the front, with his work rate and willingness to lead the press fundamental to Villa’s system. Moreover, he is able to stretch defensive lines, and create space for the likes of Morgan Rogers to operate. Emery recently described him as a “fighter” whose courage defines the team’s spirit.

Is his England World Cup dream over?

Sadly, it looks a long road back for Watkins from here. He was omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s March 2026 squad for the fixtures against Uruguay and Japan, with Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin selected as back-ups to Harry Kane. There is still time for Watkins to play himself onto the plane but, at this juncture, his dream of playing in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer is quickly fading.

Is Ollie Watkins not being involved for England good for Villa?

Yes. It keeps him fit, England are missing out.

No. We want to see Watkins in a Three Lions shirt.

Villa Park News | Ollie Watkins Review • March 2026 Update

What did Unai Emery say about Ollie Watkins’ England disappointment?

Watkins hasn’t always hit the same heights this season as he has in previous Premier League campaigns, but it was still a surprise to see him not included in an extended England squad for their March 2026 fixtures.

Instead, Thomas Tuchel plumed for Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin to back up captain Harry Kanes, and it looks a long road back for Watkins to make the 2026 World Cup squad.

But after scoring in a 2-0 win over West Ham, manager Unai Emery backed him to prove the doubters wrong.

Emery said: “He is a fighter. Three years ago he wasn’t in the national team when he deserved to be there.

“Now he is out. But he must recover his fight, like he did today, always doing his task. When he is doing his task, his numbers are coming.”