Ollie Watkins: Aston Villa agree fee for Brentford striker

By Phil McNultyChief football writer

Last updated on 8 September 2020.From the section Aston Villa641

Aston Villa are closing in on a club-record deal for Brentford striker Ollie Watkins after agreeing a fee of £28m which could rise to £33m with add-ons.

Villa moved swiftly for the 24-year-old forward after failing in a bid to sign Callum Wilson from Bournemouth.

The England striker preferred to make a £20m move to Newcastle United.

Watkins was a key player for The Bees last season, scoring 26 goals as they missed out on promotion against Fulham in the Championship play-off final.

Villa manager Dean Smith has been determined to improve his striking options after his side only secured Premier League safety on the final day of last season.

Watkins will be reunited with Smith, who signed the forward when he was Brentford manager, paying an undisclosed fee to Exeter City in July 2017.

Smith's side scored 41 top-flight goals last season, but only six came from forwards - including five from Brazilian striker Wesley.

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Comment posted by Davey Dope, at 14:33 8 Sep 2020
What I like about this story, is that Villas record transfer is not even top story above the Lucy Bronze womens transfer....lol
Reply posted by TheNightmanCometh, at 14:42 8 Sep 2020
TheNightmanCometh replied:
They're right next to each other at the top of the front page though...? A relegation side signing a Championship player is hardly massive breaking news.
Comment posted by Untold Reality, at 15:17 8 Sep 2020
Let's not forget joelinton cost £40m and Haller cost £45m. When you look at it from that aspect we've got a good deal for £28m for one of the best upcoming young English players around, who was voted best player in the championship last season
Reply posted by stevilla, at 15:21 8 Sep 2020
stevilla replied:
perspective right there.
well said.
Comment posted by David, at 15:44 8 Sep 2020
As a Grecian this is a great advert for the Exeter City Academy, Our Academy has produced more talent that we've sold on to bigger clubs than all the others in L2 combined, This is how we survive, It is a fans owned club with no one owner able to dig into their pocket. This will help the club survive post this pandemic and beyond. Well done Ollie, Brentford, ECFC and all the Academy coaches.
Reply posted by defectedsi, at 15:58 8 Sep 2020
defectedsi replied:
To bloody right what's that now 7mill generated from our academy in last 4/5years
Comment posted by The Major, at 14:36 8 Sep 2020
Anyone who says other than Brentford have got the better end of this deal must be a Villa fan.

£33m including add ons for one good season in the Championship is a huge risk financially.
Reply posted by Sidioteque, at 14:49 8 Sep 2020
Sidioteque replied:
...if you can't afford it.
Comment posted by DazzaBlue, at 14:53 8 Sep 2020
He's got great Championship experience and that will come in very useful in the following season. :-)
Comment posted by defectedsi, at 14:47 8 Sep 2020
Exeter city will get massive windfall for this due to sell on clause with Brentford ,🤞🏆😎
Reply posted by defectedsi, at 15:42 8 Sep 2020
defectedsi replied:
Exeter sell on was 20% that's 5mill in the bank
Comment posted by disgustedofwells, at 14:32 8 Sep 2020
I think Villa 'dodged a bullet' with Callum Wilson
Ollie Watkins is quick, 5yrs younger and bang on form
Wilson...not!
Reply posted by This name is awaiting moderation, at 15:05 8 Sep 2020
This name is awaiting moderation replied:
Agree but still 33 mln + adds on for W? They should have got the whole BMW for it. Good for Brentford, though. Great for Exeter.
Comment posted by Spock71, at 14:25 8 Sep 2020
Good business for both clubs. I wish Watkins well at Villa.
Reply posted by ajackson, at 14:44 8 Sep 2020
ajackson replied:
Have Villa never heard of a scouting department? Paying up to £33million for a top Championship striker is bonkers. Maybe he'll be really good, but if he's not exceptional then you've got to question their judgement for that price. James Rodriguez was £20mil! Van de Beek was £35mil!
Comment posted by Perivale Elvis, at 15:21 8 Sep 2020
I think this is one Bees player that will make it big in the Premier League. Good luck Oli.
Comment posted by RyanG, at 15:48 8 Sep 2020
It's quite amusing how easy it is to spot comments from people who've never even watched him play but because he's from the Championship or joining a rival club, are dismissing him out of hand.

What's worse, no opinion, or an ill-informed opinion? You figure it out.
Reply posted by Jeb, at 16:00 8 Sep 2020
Jeb replied:
Opinions are like **** holes. Everyone has one and they normally stink. Although that's my opinion.
Comment posted by Mandarin, at 14:30 8 Sep 2020
Good luck Ollie! The naysayers on here have no idea what they are talking about. He’ll do fine in the Premier.
Reply posted by TheNightmanCometh, at 14:39 8 Sep 2020
TheNightmanCometh replied:
Could you enlighten us then? £30m for a 2nd division striker seems an awful lot to me.
Comment posted by Rich, at 15:41 8 Sep 2020
Signing from the Championship is always a risk, but he's young, scored 26 goals, no penalties among them, the manager knows him already, won player of the season, and...well, it's not my money. Exciting signing.
Reply posted by Geoff, at 16:52 8 Sep 2020
Geoff replied:
Interesting that he had his one good season after this particular manager had left- in fact the whole club improved after Smith left.
Comment posted by RyanG, at 15:40 8 Sep 2020
As an Exeter fan, this is music to my ears. We've been losing our best talent to bigger clubs time and again, relying on sell on clauses to gain value from sales. £4m+ for a supporter owned club with no owner to bankroll us and no income from gate receipts is a god send and we always watch our budgets carefully. Here's hoping Ampadu has success at Sheffield and leaves Chelsea for big money.
Comment posted by User0513098535, at 14:23 8 Sep 2020
Really upped his game in the Championship last season, solid signing from Villa.
Comment posted by Norm77, at 15:26 8 Sep 2020
Good bit of business for both clubs - interesting who ends up scoring more this season - Wilson for Newcastle or Watkins for Villa. Brentford have already replaced Watkins by signing high scoring Toney from Peterborough. Brentfords Transfer market strategy is spot on - hope they get their premier league place next season
Comment posted by Putters, at 16:25 8 Sep 2020
Based on the views of some people commenting, unless you have Premier League experience you are a waste of space, so by this logic Leeds and West Brom should get rid of virtually all the players in their squads that have just got them promoted. Never rated that Kalvin Phillips lad. Send him back to a Championship team!
Reply posted by Rich, at 16:58 8 Sep 2020
Rich replied:
Yeah, and I imagine many of those people seldomly watch the Championship, which is actually littered with quality players these days
Comment posted by Love UK, at 14:28 8 Sep 2020
Great signing and good to see Villa now spending surgically after the squad rebuilding last year. Will now make it easier to come together as a team.

Welcome Olly! UTV
Reply posted by TheNightmanCometh, at 14:40 8 Sep 2020
TheNightmanCometh replied:
Spending lots on new players will help the team gel? Not sure I follow the logic.
Comment posted by Ferfer, at 16:34 8 Sep 2020
If you didn't watch him play last season, he may make you eat your words. He is a quality player and I think he could do better than Villa. Just because he he is a Championship layer, doesn't mean he cannot cut it in the Prem. Callum Wilson was playing in league 1 with Coventry when Bournemouth bought him, and he did alright.
Reply posted by Edward Soudan, at 16:43 8 Sep 2020
Edward Soudan replied:
Neal Maupay is not doing bad at Brighton is he? (Ex Brentford).
Comment posted by munki, at 15:42 8 Sep 2020
Just because a player plays in the Championship doesn't mean they aren't a good prospect for the Premiership. Time will tell. I remember hearing once that Jamie Vardy played non-league!!!
Comment posted by Marto, at 19:18 8 Sep 2020
One thing is for sure he will give Aston villa 100% every game , he has a talent for being in the right , place right time and he is a massive team player . He will be missed at Brentford FC but as a Bees supporter not for too long , we are always ready with a replacement , i wish him all the best along with Aston villa in the coming season .
Reply posted by Vox Populi, at 22:20 8 Sep 2020
Vox Populi replied:
All we can ask is 100% commitment Marto. Best of luck for the new season.