From Exeter to the Euros: Watkins thriving under the radar for Villa and England

Ollie Watkins advanced to the European Championships by grafting his way up from the Conference South. Johnny Nic extols a striker whose pursuit of attention never ends.

So, who is this?
Ollie George Arthur Watkins is an Aston Villa striker who stands 5’11” and was born in Torquay and raised in Newton Abbot. He played a significant role in Villa’s quest for a European trophy this season and scored for England last week.

He attended Exeter City’s academy from the age of 10 to the age of 17, and after signing pro forms with the team, he finally made his first-team debut in 2014. Ollie’s start to the 2014–15 season wasn’t smooth, though, and he was loaned out to Weston-Super-Mare for the remainder of the Conference South campaign. Before joining Exeter City again, he performed admirably, scoring ten goals in twenty-five games. However, he was unable to establish a lasting impression until the 2016–17 campaign, during which he won the Young Player of the Year award and scored sixteen goals in fifty-two appearances.

Brentford, who were aiming high to get up from the Championship into the Premier League, noticed him after this outstanding performance. He cost almost six million pounds. He made 143 appearances over his three seasons as a player with the Bees, scoring 49 goals. It was agreed that Brentford couldn’t hang onto their best player indefinitely after his 26 goals in 2019–20 helped the team advance. After he was crowned the EFL Championship Player of the Year, Villa arrived bearing gifts, pressed Brentford for £30 million, and signed Ollie to Villa Park, where he has spent the last three and a half seasons scoring 50 goals in 127 games.

He scored in his England debut against San Marino in 2021. He has eight caps and last week against Australia he scored his third goal. With seven goals in 13 Villa games, he would likely be a regular starter for England if it weren’t for Harry Kane. The most significant statistic on his resume is likely the fact that 34 of his 135 goals have been game-winning goals.

The love, why?
Ollie is one of the football players who has undoubtedly had a difficult journey to the top of the game—there can’t be many Torquay natives who have accomplished this feat. He has scored 135 goals in 373 appearances thus far, but he has only participated in about a third of those in the top division. It appears from his performances this season that he is one of those players that improves with age. This phenomenon is fascinating. Season after season, it seems as though the player’s experience permeates his DNA and he develops his skill, becoming more proficient every time.

 

He scored his first Premier League goals on October 4, 2020, in a historic 7-2 home victory over Liverpool. He scored a header, a right-footed shot, and a left-footed strike for a flawless hat-trick. In Premier League history, a reigning champion had never before given up seven goals in a single game. Ollie’s entry to the top flight was rather dramatic.

 

He scored his first Premier League goals on October 4, 2020, in a historic 7-2 home victory over Liverpool. He scored a header, a right-footed shot, and a left-footed strike for a flawless hat-trick. In Premier League history, a reigning champion had never before given up seven goals in a single game. Ollie’s entry to the top flight was rather dramatic.

He is currently under the tutelage of one of Europe’s best managers in Unai Emery, but he has also had to drastically improve his game. He was possibly a more conventional center-forward for Brentford, relying on strength and quickness to get an edge, but he has scored more goals in fewer appearances for Villa, which again points to a player who is improving. It might be his greatest season yet.

He is indeed a remarkable physical specimen, but as evidenced by his four assists this season, he has developed into much more of a player. This season, he has scored two goals with his left foot, three with his right, and two with his head. It has been a very even performance, which may point to the development of his more complete game.

Normally, at 27, he would be considered to be entering his prime years, but as players get fitter and their careers last longer, injury permitting, that is probably still a few years off. But there’s no denying that he’s already hit his stride this season. This is partially due to Emery’s use of him; he has now scored three game-winning goals, and England’s victory over Australia was made possible by his strike.