- Aston Villa have submitted a €70m bid for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson (25), with the clubs reportedly close to an agreement
- Al Hilal have received approval from Aston Villa to finalise a summer move for Ollie Watkins, according to journalist Sasha Tavolieri
- Villa were beaten 4-0 by Brighton in their Premier League opener after parting ways with Lucas Digne, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa Move for Nicolas Jackson
Aston Villa FC have made a €70m offer to sign Senegalese international striker Nicolas Jackson (25) from Premier League rivals Chelsea. The Blues are said to be close to reaching an agreement with the Birmingham-based club, although Villa have not yet settled personal terms with the forward.
Jackson moved to Chelsea from Villarreal three years ago and remains under a long-term contract with the West London side. He spent last season on loan at FC Bayern Munich, where he produced 11 goals and four assists in 34 games. Across his Chelsea spell, he has scored 30 goals and made 81 appearances but the Senegal international is not part of Xabi Alonso’s plans for the new season.
🔵🇸🇦 Al Hilal FC and Aston Villa FC have reached an agreement for Ollie Watkins!
✅ Aston Villa were waiting to find his replacement before accepting the proposal — that has now been done.
🏴 The Englishman, who will travel to Riyadh in the coming days, will earn $15M per year. pic.twitter.com/2OEElVhxiT
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) August 25, 2026
Watkins Nears Al Hilal Switch
Al Hilal have received Aston Villa’s approval to complete the signing of English striker Ollie Watkins during the summer transfer window, according to journalist Sasha Tavolieri. The agreement between the clubs reportedly followed Villa’s condition that they needed to secure a replacement striker before allowing Watkins to leave, a requirement Tavolieri says the English club has successfully fulfilled.
Watkins is set to earn an annual salary of $15 million, according to the same source. Reports from Saudi Arabia indicate that Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is covering the cost of the transaction. Al Hilal had made several offers for Watkins before talks reached their final stages, with the latest offer valued at around £45 million.
Al Hilal’s attempt to strengthen their attack comes amid uncertainty over the future of French striker Karim Benzema. The club are therefore pursuing a high-profile forward with extensive European experience. An official announcement is expected in the coming hours, subject to the completion of final procedures.
Villa’s Wider Transfer Picture
Villa’s activity is taking place during a demanding period for Unai Emery’s squad. The club have already parted ways with key performers Lucas Digne, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, and they opened their Premier League campaign with a 4-0 defeat to Brighton.
Key Transfer and Performance Data
| Player | Detail | Figure or Status |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolas Jackson | Aston Villa bid to Chelsea | €70m |
| Nicolas Jackson | Age | 25 |
| Nicolas Jackson | Last season on loan at FC Bayern Munich | 11 goals and four assists in 34 games |
| Nicolas Jackson | Chelsea record | 30 goals in 81 appearances |
| Ollie Watkins | Expected annual salary at Al Hilal | $15 million |
| Ollie Watkins | Total reported deal value | Around 450 million Riyals |
| Ollie Watkins | Latest Al Hilal offer | Around £45 million |
| Jean-Philippe Mateta | Crystal Palace rejected Aston Villa proposal | €22m |
