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Ollie Watkins

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Ollie Watkins
Watkins playing for Aston Villa in 2021
Personal information
Full name Oliver George Arthur Watkins
Date of birth (1995-12-30) 30 December 1995 (age 28)
Place of birth Torquay, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Aston Villa
Number 11
Youth career
2002–2003 Buckland Athletic
2003–2004 Newton Town F.C. & Devon F.A.
2004–2014 Exeter City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Exeter City 68 (21)
2014–2015 → Weston-super-Mare (loan) 24 (10)
2017–2020 Brentford 132 (45)
2020– Aston Villa 146 (59)
International career‡
2021– England 14 (4)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:14, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:00, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

Oliver George Arthur Watkins (born 30 December 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa and the England national team.

Watkins is a product of the Exeter City academy and made his breakthrough at the club, winning the EFL Young Player of the Year award, before departing in 2017 for Brentford. He had a successful three-year spell at the club, culminating in being the joint top-scorer in the 2019–20 Championship and being named Championship Player of the Year in 2020.

During September 2020, Watkins signed for his present club, Aston Villa. In the summer of 2024, he was awarded the honour of the Premier League Playmaker of the Season.

Early life and education

Oliver George Arthur Watkins[2] was born on 30 December 1995[3] in Torbay Hospital in Torquay, Devon.[4] He grew up in nearby Newton Abbot and attended South Dartmoor Community College in Ashburton[5] together with Matt Jay and Jamie Reid.

Watkins began playing grassroots football with the academy of Buckland Athletic at 6 years of age.[6] Therafter, Watkins joined neighbouring Newton Town F.C. for one season and he also represented the Devon County Football Association alongside Sam Gallagher.[7] Watkins is a lifelong Arsenal supporter.[8]

Club career

Exeter City

Early career

Watkins joined Exeter City's academy at Under-11 level, having previously failed a trial with the club at the age of nine in 2003.[9] He rose through the youth ranks to sign a scholarship deal in 2012. In April 2014, he signed a two-year professional contract [9][10] after scoring 30 goals for the Under-18 team in its 2013–14 Football League Youth Alliance South West Conference-winning season.[11]

Watkins won his maiden first-team call up when he was named as a substitute for the final League Two match of the 2013–14 season versus Hartlepool United and he made his senior debut when he replaced Aaron Dawson after 77 minutes of the 2–0 victory.[12] Watkins was frequently named as a substitute by Paul Tisdale during the first three months of the 2014–15 season,[13] but despite scoring his first senior goal (a late consolation in a 3–1 Football League Trophy second round defeat to Coventry City on 7 October 2014), he made just three appearances before departing on loan to Weston-super-Mare for the remainder of the campaign in December 2014.[14][15]

On 8 December 2014, Watkins joined Conference South club Weston-super-Mare on a one-month loan.[16] Through repeated extensions of the loan,[17] Watkins would remain with the club until the end of the 2014–15 season.[14] He featured regularly for the team, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances before returning to Exeter at the end of the season.[18]

2015–2017: First-team breakthrough

After failing to be named in a first-team squad during the opening two months of the 2015–16 season,[19] Watkins broke onto the substitutes' bench in October 2015 and made his first appearance of the season late in the month.[20] He made his first start for Exeter City in a 2–1 Devon derby victory over Plymouth Argyle on 6 December and scored his first goal of the season with the Grecians' second in a 2–0 FA Cup second round victory over Port Vale in the following match.[19]

During March 2016, Watkins had broken into the starting line-up.[19] That same month, he scored four goals in six appearances to win the Football League Young Player of the Month and PFA Fans' Player of the Month awards.[21][22] His goalscoring run extended into mid-April and finished with 8 goals in 10 appearances.[20] Two of these goals came in the return Devon derby with Plymouth Argyle, in which his late brace sealed a 2–1 comeback victory and the second goal was subsequently voted as the club's Goal of the Season.[23][24] Watkins finished the 2015–16 season with 10 goals in 22 appearances.[20]

Watkins' performances in the final two months of the 2015–16 season saw him enter 2016–17 as an established member of the first-team squad.[25] He had an eventful season, making 52 appearances, scoring 16 goals, and contributing 13 assists,[26] though the campaign ended with Exeter losing 2–1 to Blackpool in the 2017 League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium.[27] Watkins scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 4–1 win over Newport County on 31 December 2016 and his two goals and five assists in January 2017 saw him win the League Two Player of the Month award.[27][28] On 9 April, he was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Year award for his performances during the season.[29]

Brentford

On 18 July 2017, Watkins joined Championship club Brentford on a four-year contract, with an option for a further year, for an undisclosed fee,[26] reported to be £1.8 million.[30] He scored his first goal for Brentford on 8 August in their 3–1 extra-time victory away to AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup first round.[31]

On 9 August 2019, Watkins signed a new four-year contract with a one-year extension option.[32] He scored his first hat-trick for the club in the Championship against Barnsley in a 3–1 win on 29 September.[33] Watkins made 50 appearances and scored 26 goals in all competitions during the 2019–20 season, which ended with defeat in the 2020 Championship play-off final.[34]

Aston Villa

2020–2023

Watkins playing for Aston Villa in 2021

On 9 September 2020, Watkins joined Premier League club Aston Villa on a five-year contract,[35] for a then club-record fee of £28 million, which could rise to £33 million.[36] Exeter City made £4 million and a further £750,000 in additional performance related add-ons from the transfer as they had inserted a sell-on clause when Watkins was sold to Brentford.[37] In joining Aston Villa, Watkins was reunited with manager Dean Smith, who had signed him for Brentford.[citation needed] On 15 September, Watkins made his Aston Villa debut, scoring in a 3–1 away win in the EFL Cup against Burton Albion.[38] He went on to make his Premier League debut on 21 September, in a 1–0 home win against Sheffield United.[39]

On 4 October 2020, Watkins scored his first Premier League goals, scoring through a left footed strike, a right footed strike and a header for a perfect hat-trick in a 7–2 home victory over champions Liverpool.[40] It was Liverpool's heaviest defeat in 57 years and was the first time in Premier League history that a reigning champion had conceded 7 goals in a single match.[41] On 10 April 2021, Watkins scored against Liverpool again, becoming the first player since Andrey Arshavin in the 2008–09 season to score as many as four goals against Liverpool in a single Premier League season.[42] With 14 goals, he became Aston Villa's top scorer of the 2020–21 season.[43]

On 25 February 2023, Watkins scored in his fifth consecutive Premier League match, a 2–0 win away to Everton, becoming the first Aston Villa player to achieve this feat.[44]

2023–present

On 23 August 2023, Watkins scored a hat-trick in Villa's 5–0 win against Hibernian in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round, which ensured the team's qualification for the group stage.[45] On 30 September, he scored his second hat-trick of the 2023–24 season and his third for Aston Villa in a 6–1 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion.[46] On 6 October, Watkins signed a new contract with Aston Villa, committing his future to the club until 2028.[47] On 14 April 2024, he scored a goal in a 2–0 away win over Arsenal, in which he became the joint-top scorer for Aston Villa in a single Premier League season, 19 goals without penalty kicks, equalling Christian Benteke's record in 2012–13.[48] On 14 May 2024, at Aston Villa's 2023–24, Watkins was voted Supporters' and Players' Player of the Season.[49]

At the end of the season, Watkins won the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for the most assists of the season, with 13.[50] Watkins was also named in the Premier League Fan Team of the Season.[51]

International career

On 18 March 2021, Watkins was named in Gareth Southgate's England squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against San Marino, Albania and Poland.[52] On 25 March 2021, Watkins made his England debut as a second-half substitute in a 5–0 victory over San Marino at Wembley. He subsequently scored his first England goal with his first shot on target in an England shirt.[53]

Watkins was named in the provisional England squad for UEFA Euro 2020 in May 2021.[54] However, he was not selected in the final 26-man squad for the tournament.[55]

Watkins made his first start for England on 29 March 2022 at Wembley in a friendly against the Ivory Coast, scoring the opening goal in the 30th minute of the 3–0 win.[56]

Watkins was not included in England's squad for any of their 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches or the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[57] He was recalled to the squad in October 2023 for the first time in 18 months[58] and, on 13 October, started in a friendly with Australia, scoring the only goal of the match.[59]

He was named in England's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024.[60] In England's semi-final against the Netherlands, Watkins along with Cole Palmer came off the bench in the 81st minute,[61] with the latter assisting him to score the winning goal in the 90th minute, sending England to the final.[62]

Style of play

Watkins has described himself as "a number 10",[63] and in 2017 named Thierry Henry as his idol, saying "I try to base my game on his, by driving at defenders and looking to make something happen when I get the ball".[64] He is also adept as a winger. He was adapted into a more traditional centre-forward at Brentford during the 2019–20 season.[65]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 19 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Exeter City 2013–14[12] League Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
2014–15[15] League Two 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 1[a] 1 3 1
2015–16[20] League Two 20 8 2 1 0 0 — 0 0 22 9
2016–17[27] League Two 45 13 0 0 2 0 — 5[b] 3 52 16
Total 68 21 2 1 2 0 — 6 4 78 26
Weston-super-Mare (loan) 2014–15[18] Conference South 24 10 — — — 1[c] 0 25 10
Brentford 2017–18[66] Championship 45 10 1 0 2 1 — — 48 11
2018–19[67] Championship 41 10 3 2 1 0 — — 45 12
2019–20[68] Championship 46 25 0 0 1 0 — 3[d] 1 50 26
Total 132 45 4 2 4 1 — 3 1 143 49
Aston Villa 2020–21[69] Premier League 37 14 0 0 3 2 — — 40 16
2021–22[70] Premier League 35 11 1 0 0 0 — — 36 11
2022–23[71] Premier League 37 15 1 0 2 1 — — 40 16
2023–24[72] Premier League 37 19 3 0 1 0 12[e] 8 — 53 27
Total 146 59 5 0 6 3 12 8 — 169 70
Career total 370 135 11 3 12 4 12 8 10 5 415 155
  1. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Two appearances and one goal in EFL Trophy, three appearances and two goals in League Two play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance in FA Trophy
  4. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played 10 July 2024[73]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
England 2021 5 1
2022 2 1
2023 2 1
2024 5 1
Total 14 4
As of match played 10 July 2024
England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Watkins goal[73]
List of international goals scored by Ollie Watkins
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 25 March 2021 Wembley Stadium, London, England 1  San Marino 5–0 5–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [74]
2 29 March 2022 Wembley Stadium, London, England 7  Ivory Coast 1–0 3–0 Friendly [75]
3 13 October 2023 Wembley Stadium, London, England 8  Australia 1–0 1–0 Friendly [76]
4 10 July 2024 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany 14  Netherlands 2–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2024 [77]

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Ollie Watkins: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  2. ^ "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Ollie Watkins: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  4. ^ "From the playing fields of South Devon to England and the World Cup – star footballer Ollie does mum and family proud". Torbay Weekly. Clear Sky Publishing. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  5. ^ Robertson, Gregor (23 March 2021). "Ollie Watkins's mum: I used to drive him to training – then rush back to get on stage". The Times. London. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  6. ^ Gilliver, Liam (11 July 2024). "Ollie Watkins' former club in Devon go wild after striker fires Lions to finals". Devon Live.
  7. ^ "My journey: Ollie Watkins on how he went from Newton Town to playing for England". England Football.
  8. ^ "Ollie Watkins: 'I'm an Arsenal fan – my grandad won't be too happy!'". Evening Standard. London. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b Baker, Derek. "Feature article: Ollie Watkins – one of our own". Exeter City F.C. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Exeter City hand professional deals to three young starlets". Western Morning News. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Watkins: "I want to prove what I can do"". Exeter City F.C. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Ollie Watkins Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Brentford FC Get to know Ollie Watkins". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Exeter City: Ollie Watkins and Matt Jay loaned to Weston-super-Mare". BBC Sport. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
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  23. ^ "Match Report: Exeter City 2–1 Plymouth Argyle". Exeter City F.C. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
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  30. ^ "Brentford agree £1.8m deal to sign Exeter striker Ollie Watkins". Sky Sports. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  31. ^ "AFC Wimbledon 1–3 Brentford". BBC Sport. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Ollie Watkins signs long-term contract extension". Brentford F.C. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  33. ^ "Twitter". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 29 September 2019 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ "Brentford 1 Fulham 2". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Villa announce Watkins signing". Aston Villa F.C. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  36. ^ Dick, Brian (9 September 2020). "CONFIRMED: Aston Villa see off Tottenham challenge as £28m star completes transfer". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  37. ^ Pilnick, Brent (11 July 2024). "Ollie Watkins: England goalscorer's friends react to Euro 2024 win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  38. ^ Maher, Matt (15 September 2020). "Carabao Cup: Burton 1 Aston Villa 3 – Report". Express & Star. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  39. ^ Sanders, Emma (21 September 2020). "Aston Villa 1–0 Sheffield United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  40. ^ "Aston Villa 7–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  41. ^ "Premier League champs Liverpool stunned 7–2 by Aston Villa; Reds worst loss in 57 years". Yahoo. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  42. ^ "Twitter". Premier League. Retrieved 12 April 2021 – via Twitter.
  43. ^ "English Premier League Scoring Stats 2020–21". ESPN.
  44. ^ "Watkins on history-making five goals in five". Aston Villa F.C. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  45. ^ "Hibernian 0–5 Aston Villa". Aston Villa F.C. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  46. ^ "Watkins treble fires Villa's rout of hapless Brighton". France24. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  47. ^ Tanswell, Jacob. "Watkins signs new Aston Villa contract until at least 2028". The Athletic. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  48. ^ Mendola, Nicholas; Prince-Wright, Joe (15 April 2024). "Should Ollie Watkins be the Premier League Player of the Season?". NBC Sports.
  49. ^ a b c "Ollie Watkins collects End of Season Awards double". Aston Villa Football Club. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  50. ^ a b "Man City make history with fourth title in a row". Premier League. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  51. ^ a b "Revealed: 2023/24 Fan Team of the Season". premierleague.com. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  52. ^ Hincks, Michael (18 March 2021). "England squad: Ollie Watkins earns first England call-up; Jesse Lingard, Luke Shaw, John Stones all recalled". Sky Sports. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  53. ^ McNulty, Phil (25 March 2021). "England 5–0 San Marino: Ollie Watkins scores on debut in easy Three Lions win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  54. ^ "Uncapped quartet in 33-man England squad". BBC Sport. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  55. ^ Watson, Chris (1 June 2021). "Watkins decision confirmed as Southgate names final England squad". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  56. ^ Burt, Jason; McGrath, Mike; Thomas, Harri (29 March 2022). "England cruise to victory over 10-man Ivory Coast as Serge Aurier sees red in first half". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  57. ^ "World Cup omissions highlight how Aston Villa's progress has stalled". The Athletic. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  58. ^ "There is no recency bias over Ollie Watkins – England's most prolific player over last year". The Daily Telegraph. London. 12 October 2023.,
  59. ^ "Ollie Watkins strike gives England scrappy win over Australia". The Guardian. London. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  60. ^ "Eze & Wharton named in England squad for Euro 2024". BBC Sport. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  61. ^ Smyth, Rob (10 July 2024). "Netherlands 1-2 England: Euro 2024 semi-final – as it happened" – via www.theguardian.com.
  62. ^ McNulty, Phil (10 July 2024). "Late Watkins winner sends England into Euro 2024 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  63. ^ Law, James (19 April 2016). "Exeter City's Ollie Watkins: Scoring goals for the club that once turned him away". BBC Sport.
  64. ^ "Q&A: Ollie Watkins – BEHIND THE SEAMS". Ted Baker. 9 June 2017.[dead link]
  65. ^ Dean, Sam (24 January 2020). "Inside Brentford: The hotbed of talent development with a valid claim for best-run club in the country". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  66. ^ "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  67. ^ "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  68. ^ "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  69. ^ "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  70. ^ "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  71. ^ "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  72. ^ "Games played by Ollie Watkins in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  73. ^ a b "Ollie Watkins: Internationals". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  74. ^ "England vs. San Marino 5–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  75. ^ "England vs. Côte d'Ivoire 3–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  76. ^ "England vs. Australia 1–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  77. ^ "Netherlands vs. England 1–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  78. ^ "EFL Awards: Brentford striker Ollie Watkins wins Championship Player of the Season". BBC Sport. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  79. ^ "Jordan Henderson among five Liverpool players in PFA team of the year". Yahoo! Sport. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
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