Emery emotional as Villa secure £50m fees for Watkins and Konsa
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expressed disbelief that the club received £50 million each for Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa. He admitted to shedding a tear when bidding farewell to Watkins, who is set to join Al Hilal. Emery praised Watkins' overall commitment and confirmed Nicolas Jackson will replace him.
Watkins had stopped training with Villa while his move to Al Hilal was negotiated, and he missed the season-opening 4-0 defeat to Brighton. He later apologized to teammates, returned to training on Monday, and Villa accepted the Saudi club's offer of £50 million plus small add-ons. Konsa's transfer to Arsenal was completed earlier in August for £51 million. Jackson arrives on a five-year contract with an option for an additional 12 months, and Villa are working to register him before Monday's match against Arsenal, where Konsa could make his debut for the visitors.
Emery noted that both Watkins and Konsa were sold at age 30, calling the fees "crazy" given their age. He also mentioned that Tielemans and Digne had release clauses in their contracts, while the departures of Watkins, Konsa, and Martinez were driven by player demands. Watkins leaves as Villa's all-time leading Premier League scorer.
This story could influence how clubs and fans view player loyalty and transfer economics, particularly for players in their late twenties and thirties. Supporters may feel a sense of loss when homegrown or long-serving stars depart, but the substantial fees could allow Villa to reinvest and remain competitive. The move may also signal to other clubs that Saudi league offers are becoming a realistic option for established Premier League players, potentially shifting market dynamics and career planning for athletes approaching their thirties.