Al-Hilal have signed Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, the two clubs announced on Sunday, as the 30-year-old striker ended a successful six-year spell with the Midlands club where he became their top scorer in the Premier League. The England international, who had two years left on his Villa contract, has moved for a reported £51m. Watkins signed a three-year contract as Al-Hilal acquired a proven goalscorer after he scored 21 goals in all competitions last season, including five goals in the Europa League as he helped deliver a European trophy to Unai Emery’s side.
However, an exit was on the cards before the transfer window closed, with Emery revealing the striker had apologised for making himself unavailable for the club’s Premier League opener, a 4-0 defeat at Brighton. Watkins scored 91 Premier League goals for Villa and 108 in all competitions since arriving from Brentford for £28m in 2020. The striker is among a string of departures from Villa in the close season following the exits of key players such as Morgan Rogers and Emi Martinez to Chelsea – the latter moving on Sunday – Ezri Konsa to Arsenal and Youri Tielemans to Manchester United.
Roma have stepped up their Serie A challenge with the acquisition of two captains, midfielder Marten De Roon coming over from Atalanta and centre-back Leonardo Balerdi joining from Marseille. The 35-year-old De Roon evolved into Atalanta’s skipper after a decade spent in Bergamo over two spells. He will reunite with Roma’s manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who formerly coached him at Atalanta.
And the former Serie A MVP Rafael Leão has completed a €38m transfer from Milan to Galatasaray. The Turkish side confirmed a deal for the Portugal winger, signing him to a four-year contract with a net salary of €10m per season.
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