Villa completes Watkins signing to bolster attacking options

Aston Villa has roped in striker Ollie Watkins on a five-year deal for an estimated club record fee of 28 million pounds.

Published : Sep 09, 2020 18:35 IST

Ollie Watkins' arrival will further bolster Aston Villa's attacking options for the upcoming Premier League season.
Ollie Watkins' arrival will further bolster Aston Villa's attacking options for the upcoming Premier League season.
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Ollie Watkins' arrival will further bolster Aston Villa's attacking options for the upcoming Premier League season.

Aston Villa has signed striker Ollie Watkins from Championship side Brentford on a five-year deal, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed but British media reported Villa paid a club record fee of 28 million pounds ($36.2 million) plus a potential 5 million pounds in add-ons.

It eclipses the 22 million pounds Villa spent to sign striker Wesley Moraes from Club Brugge last year.

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Watkins, 24, was an influential player for Brentford last season, scoring 26 league goals as it missed out on top-flight promotion after losing to Fulham in the Championship playoff final.

Villa, which avoided Premier League relegation on the final day of last season, has been determined to improve attacking options and was also linked with striker Callum Wilson before he completed a switch from Bournemouth to Newcastle United .

Watkins will be reunited with Villa manager Dean Smith, who signed the English forward when he was Brentford manager from Exeter City in July 2017.

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“Ollie has developed into one of the most sought-after strikers in the country and we are looking forward to seeing him show his great qualities in an Aston Villa shirt,” Smith said..

“He is a hugely determined character who has both the ability and personality to succeed at the highest level,” he added.

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