Ollie Watkins transfer news: Aston Villa boss Unai Emery gives cryptic answer when asked about striker amid Al Hilal interest

Unai Emery gave a coy and cryptic response to questions about Ollie Watkins' absence from Aston Villa's squad for their Premier League defeat at Brighton. 

The striker did not travel to the Amex amid transfer interest from Al Hilal. Watkins is keen on the move to Saudi Arabia and Al Hilal have seen at least one bid rejected.

Villa do not want to sell Watkins but talks between the clubs continue.

Watkins returned from his post-World Cup summer break in the week before the game, but, when asked to explain whether his absence was due to physical or transfer-related reasons, Emery said: "Ask him. I only can answer it by silence."

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That followed a pre-match interview, where Emery was asked about Watkins and, after a long pause, simply said: "Silence".

Post-match, Emery made reference to the "commitment" of his other players, despite Villa losing 4-0 and having Joao Gomes sent off in the first half at Brighton.

Emery's exchange with Sky Sports reporter Johnny Phillips in full:

Can you clarify why Watkins wasn't in the squad today?

"This question is for him.

"Can you call him and make a question to him?"

So it was not your decision, it was his decision?

"Ask him. I only can answer it by silence."

Does this make it a challenging situation if it's not in your control?

"The players that are here, they showed it, their commitment and it's really fantastic and this is the way. Of course losing, but this is the way."

Is it disappointing to see it ending like this?

"We know, we had it before here. We had it in different moments. In four years we had it maybe five times in different circumstances.

"But we are going forward, moving always forward. My responsibility is to try to analyse, to find solutions and for the transfer window we have 10 days to find solutions, and we have then of course a way to find solutions with the players we have and we are doing [that].

"We did a fantastic match against PSG in the only official match we played, and today the first 10-15 minutes and the second half how we responded through our commitment, through our keeping up our focus and motivation, this is the best response I can find today. And then try to continue to find solution tactically and find solution with some needs in the squad. We always recover and came back from situations like that and I'm confident we will now."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Ollie Watkins transfer news: Aston Villa boss Unai Emery gives cryptic answer when asked about striker amid Al Hilal interest