Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has disclosed that departing striker Ollie Watkins apologised to him and his teammates after refusing to feature in the club's match against Brighton, as the forward closes in on a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Watkins, 30, is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Friday to finalise a £51m transfer to Al-Hilal, bringing an end to a five-year spell at Villa Park that began when he joined from Brentford for £28m in 2020. During his time with the club, the England international established himself as Villa's all-time leading Premier League scorer, netting 91 league goals and 108 across all competitions.
Speaking about the circumstances surrounding Watkins' final days at the club, Emery confirmed that the striker had made himself unavailable for Sunday's fixture against Brighton before later expressing regret over the decision.
"He told us after the Brighton match he was sorry and that he had made a mistake. He was wrong, but we accepted it. The players as well," Emery said.
Despite the incident, the Spanish coach was full of praise for Watkins' overall conduct during his time at the club, describing an emotional farewell between the two.
"His commitment and his behaviour was fantastic. He's a fantastic guy - a fantastic guy even more than a player. I told him 'bye' with a huge hug and with small tears," Emery added. "But now it's a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson."
Villa have already agreed terms to sign Jackson from Chelsea for £65m as they look to fill the void left by Watkins' departure. The club are working to have the Senegalese forward registered in time for Monday's Premier League clash against Arsenal.
Watkins' exit is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from Villa Park this summer, as the club undergoes a significant overhaul following last season's successful campaign. Emery, addressing supporters directly, urged patience and understanding regarding the club's strategy of cashing in on established players.
"We took decisions because it's good for the club," Emery explained. "Of course, we don't want to be a club that sells players, but the responsibility is there. It's crazy [money for someone] 30 years old and £50m for Ezri Konsa [who is 28].
"How we developed in the last year with some players and how we can sell some players now is completely the right decision. We have to rebuild the team as fast as possible. [Fans] have to accept our way and why we are taking some decisions."
As part of that rebuilding process, Villa have also completed the free-transfer signing of German international Leon Goretzka, who joins after leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season. The midfielder, a winner of seven Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown during his time in Bavaria, could feature as early as this weekend.
"He is a winner. He is a very competitive player - a good player to add into our squad," Emery said of his new recruit. "He is versatile and arrives fit and training well. Hopefully on Monday he can be on the field."
With Watkins departing for the Middle East and Jackson poised to step into the role of lead striker, Villa's summer of transition continues as Emery looks to reshape his squad ahead of a pivotal season.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.