“I’m still shocked” – Ollie Watkins’ wife gets emotional after reaching Saudi Arabia
Ollie Watkins had a fantastic start to his new life in Saudi Arabia, scoring in his first game for Al-Hilal as they beat Al-Ahli 3-1. He kept the good form going in the next match, helping his team win 2-0 against Al-Shabab. It’s clear he’s settling in really well.
But it’s not just Ollie who’s made the move—his wife, Ellie, has also packed up and moved with their two kids. Recently, she shared a heartfelt post about the big change.
Ollie and Ellie got married in May 2025, and after Ollie decided to leave Aston Villa, the whole family moved to Saudi Arabia. Ollie spent six years in Birmingham with Villa, helping them win the Europa League last season.
Though he’s still in great shape and many were surprised by the move, Ellie admitted on TikTok that moving wasn’t part of her plans for 2026. She said, “This wasn’t on my bucket list for 2026. We’ve arrived in Saudi Arabia, and honestly, I’m still in shock. Life can change so fast, but that’s the beauty of football.” She also shared how emotional it was to close such an important chapter of their lives.
During his time in the Premier League, Ollie was one of the top scorers, netting 91 goals in 221 games. He was among the top 10 goal-scorers in five of those six seasons. The one exception was 2021/22, when Villa had a tough year, finishing 14th and changing managers.
Now, Ollie is eager to bring his goal-scoring skills to the Saudi Pro League. In an ESPN interview, he said the league’s level matches the Premier League, with strong, physical games and high-quality football. He added that he quickly knew he wanted to join Al-Hilal after watching their performance in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Ollie said, “I want to win trophies here, and this team gives me a great chance to do that. I’m aiming to score in every game. I’m still getting used to things—only had a few days of training—but once I’m in rhythm, I’ll be ready.”