There aren’t many forwards better than Ollie Watkins in the Premier League right now. That’s straight facts, not even hype at all. It’s crazy knowing he was once rejected as a nine-year-old. Now, he’s pretty much a Premier League icon. You’ve even got kids wanting to try his hairstyle.
This player’s journey is an interesting one. It’s all about grit, talent, and determination. We’re talking about a young boy from Torquay who pushed all the way up to become a hero for Aston Villa and England. Now, he’s got 70 Premier League goals, a historic hat-trick against Liverpool, and a match-winning Euro 2024 semi-final strike.
It’s safe to say the young man’s rise is a modern football fairytale. And best of all, there is the opportunity to watch it happen. This article will tell you all about it.
Ollie Watkins: In the Beginning
Key milestones in his youth career:
- 2013-2014: He scored on 30 occasions for Exeter’s U-18 squad. This earned him a professional contract.
- 2014: He made his senior debut for Exeter in League Two. He however struggled for minutes and was loaned to Weston-super-Mare (Conference South). There, he scored 10 in 24 games.
His period in the lower leagues took him to a new height: “Non-league helped me to develop a lot. There were older [guys], perhaps not as fit or as quick as me but able to use ways to stop me with the odd niggle here and there. Or they’d just foul me if I went past them. It was completely different to reserve-team football.”
How Watkins Made the Move from League 2 to the Premier League
So, he moved from League 2 and had his breakthrough. But how did that happen? Well, the young lad had a stellar 2016-17 campaign at Exeter. He hit the net on 16 occasions and provided 13 assists for them as well. He also won an award for the best youngster in the EFL that year. Thanks to this, the striker joined Brentford in 2017. He signed for £1.8 million. There, he transformed into a Championship powerhouse:
- Versatile Profile: He would switch from winger to a striker under manager Thomas Frank. He played on the wings during his first two years but Frank had to groom him to fill the void left by Maupay’s departure.
- 2019-20: In the 2019-20 campaign, he scored on 26 occasions for Brentford. They narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League, as he led them to the play-off final. He also won the Player of the Year.
Aston Villa’s Record Signing
In 2020, Watkins joined Aston Villa for £28 million. He’s been in our faces and in the news ever since then. He’s got quite the friendship with teammate Matty Cash, too. His Premier League debut campaign was electric.
Notably, he scored thrice in Villa’s 7-2 thrashing of Liverpool. It was the first perfect hat-trick (left foot, right foot, header) by a Villa man in Premier League history.
He also became Villa’s top scorer in four consecutive seasons. The Englishman netted 19 non-penalty strikes in 2023-24 to tie Christian Benteke’s club record. Currently, he has 11 for the club — the most recent against Ipswich Town. Can your number 9 relate?
England National Team Career
Watkins earned his first England cap in March 2021, and trust him to be grand about it. He scored within 18 minutes against San Marino. Since then, he’s grown to be a reliable option:
- 18 caps: He has featured in 18 games for the Three Lions. He’s netted on 5 attempts, including that dramatic 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
- Versatility: He can play both as a center-forward and a right winger. This should be useful for newly-appointed head coach, Thomas Tuchel.
Euro 2024 Highlights
- Semi-final: He came on in the 81st minute, sealing the final spot with a strike at stoppage.
- Final: He played 90 minutes in the following 2-1 loss to Spain. He could go on to be the perfect Harry Kane heir.
Football Betting Tips: Insights from MightyTips
Ollie Watkins has gained recognition not only in his country of birth, but also all over the world. Especially Hungarians have fallen in love with him. Therefore, Hungarian betting on the player has started to go off the charts. If you are in Hungary, you can go through https://mightytips.bet/fogadoirodak/ to see their review of the best sports betting sites in Hungary you can use, among other quality recommendations.
Speaking of betting tips, here’s how the Villa target man can win you some cash:
- Scoring Consistency: With 0.41 strikes per game in the Premier League, betting on him to score offers strong value.
- Assist Potential: He’s not just a finisher. His 13 assists in 2023-24 show he’s still a playmaker.
- Big-Game Pedigree: Back him in matches against top-six sides; he’s scored against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man City.
Final Thoughts: A Player Who Defied the Odds
Credit: Ardfern, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The kid from Torquay has had quite the story, you’d agree. From a loan spell in the sixth tier to a £28 million transfer, from Devon grassroots to England’s Euro finals. You won’t be wrong to admit he’s shattered every ceiling. Looking at the stats, the forward currently has scored 150+ strikes and 60+ assists. He also has around £14 million net worth, earning a salary of about £130,000 per week.
The future? At 29, he is peaking. Arsenal even tried to get him this January, but Villa manager Unai Emery was really desperate to keep him. With a contract until 2028, his tomorrow seems bright. As long as he has no fitness problems, he’ll only spend time improving. Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings recently had injuries, but they weren’t serious. Mings’ was a big scare last month. The defender had just returned from a knee injury where he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Thankfully, they will both be available for Aston Villa.
Watkins keeps himself going with a hungry spirit. As he once said, “Even if I’ve had the best game possible, nothing is ever perfect. I’m still looking for perfection — I know that’s not real, but it keeps me pushing for more.”
For Aston Villa and the national team, that hunger will be their greatest asset.