Last season, Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic highlighted Douglas Luiz as “one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders,” attributing Aston Villa’s impressive top-four finish to his vital role in the center of the pitch.
Luiz has been integral to Villa’s setup for five years, having joined from Manchester City as a 21-year-old for £15m in 2019. Since then, he has made 204 appearances, scored 22 goals, and provided 24 assists.
Under Unai Emery, Villa has thrived in European competition and now stands among the elite. Emery’s blend of talent, tenacity, and tactical acumen created a system marked by fluency and fervor, with Luiz at its heart. Last season, Luiz contributed ten goals and ten assists, serving as the general in midfield.
However, due to the need to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, Luiz is set to move to Juventus. In return, Villa will acquire Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior.
Valued at €50m (£42m), Luiz leaves as a key figure in Villa’s rise, though another Villa star holds a higher valuation than the 26-year-old.
What Aston Villa paid for Ollie Watkins
In the summer of 2020, Dean Smith’s Aston Villa narrowly avoided relegation in their return to the Premier League and aimed to strengthen significantly to climb the table.
The 2019 signing of Wesley Moraes for £22m had not worked out, as the Brazilian scored five goals in 21 matches before tearing his ACL. Villa then turned to Brentford’s star, Ollie Watkins, who had just completed a 26-goal campaign in the Championship.
Watkins joined Villa in a club-record deal rising to £33m and has been outstanding at Villa Park, consistently providing a reliable goal threat while contributing far beyond his goal-scoring prowess.
### Aston Villa: Top Scorer by Season
| Season | Player | Apps | Goals |
|——–|—————-|——|——-|
| 23/24 | Ollie Watkins | 53 | 27 |
| 22/23 | Ollie Watkins | 40 | 16 |
| 21/22 | Ollie Watkins | 36 | 11 |
| 20/21 | Ollie Watkins | 40 | 16 |
| 19/20 | Jack Grealish | 41 | 10 |
| 18/19 | Tammy Abraham | 42 | 26 |
(Stats via Transfermarkt)
Watkins has been impressive since moving to the Midlands, winning the club’s top goalscorer award in each of his four seasons since leaving Brentford. His most recent season is undoubtedly his best, solidifying his reputation as one of the Premier League’s top players.
Ollie Watkins’ 23/24 season in numbers
Last season, Ollie Watkins thrived as the spearhead of Unai Emery’s system, playing a crucial role in Aston Villa’s qualification for the Champions League.
In 53 appearances across all competitions, the 28-year-old scored an impressive 27 goals and added 13 assists in the Premier League.
According to FBref, Watkins ranks in the top 20% of center-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored and in the top 29% for shots taken per 90 minutes, showcasing his prolific nature. Additionally, he ranks in the top 3% for assists per 90 minutes, highlighting his dynamism and multifaceted skill set. Leicester City’s Conor Coady described him as a “nightmare to play against” due to his many-angled weaponry.
The complete striker 💫
Ollie Watkins is the @Castrol Playmaker Award winner, finishing two clear of Cole Palmer pic.twitter.com/6Fzw4CH4Ru
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 19, 2024
£33m for a player untested in top-flight football always carries some risk, but Dean Smith and his team saw something special in the versatile Englishman and made their move. This investment has paid off wonderfully for the club as it continues to develop.
Ollie Watkins’ current market valuation is staggering, estimated to be £33m more than that of Douglas Luiz, another standout member of the Aston Villa squad—at least for now.
Watkins signed a new contract in October 2023, extending his stay at Villa Park until the end of the 2027/28 season. Despite interest from high-profile suitors, prising him away from Emery’s project would be extremely costly.
In the early stages of a lucrative new deal worth £130k per week, and having had his best season yet, Watkins is deservedly one of the most marketable and expensive players in the Aston Villa squad. Football Transfers identifies him as the most valuable player in the squad, a claim supported by GIVEMESPORT, which reported during the 2023/24 season that Arsenal-linked Watkins would only be allowed to leave for £75m or more.
52 games. 27 goals. 13 assists. 🤯
The Aston Villa Men’s squad have voted Ollie Watkins as their 2023/24 Players’ Player of the Season! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/buYwdw7km3
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 14, 2024
This stance is unlikely to have changed, with Watkins expected to lead the club into a new era among Europe’s elite. The security of Champions League football has made it hard to convince Emery to sell him, and he won’t.
While Watkins cost a significant sum four years ago, his current £75m price tag indicates his value has risen by a staggering 127%, even though he once held the title of Villa’s club-record signing.
Villa have truly hit the jackpot with Watkins. Despite lingering concerns surrounding PSR, the idea of selling their key frontman has never seriously been considered at Villa Park, reflecting Emery’s unwavering stance.
And rightly so. Watkins stands head and shoulders above fellow high-profile Villans such as Luiz. He is the cream of the crop and must be allowed to lead the side in the Champions League just a few months from now.
