Ollie Watkins Embraces New Challenge at Al-Hilal
Ollie Watkins has barely unpacked his bags in Riyadh, but he already sounds like a man intent on leaving a mark.
The England international, who swapped Aston Villa for Al-Hilal in the summer window, has opened up on why he chose the Saudi Roshn League and what he wants to achieve with the Riyadh giants.
New country, new challenge
Watkins has hit the ground running on the pitch. He came off the bench to score in the 3-0 win over Al-Ahli last Tuesday, then earned his first start in the 2-0 victory against Al-Shabab, even if the net eluded him this time.
Speaking after the Al-Shabab game, in comments reported by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the striker laid out the thinking behind his move.
“Personally, I wanted to take on a new challenge that was offered to me and my family,” he said.
For Watkins, this is about more than a transfer. It is a relocation of his life.
“We have lived in the United Kingdom our whole lives, and moving here and exploring a new culture is a very wonderful experience,” he explained.
The welcome in Riyadh, he says, has matched the scale of the club he has joined.
“Everyone welcomed us warmly and were not sparing with any help, and playing for a club the size of Al-Hilal, as the biggest of Saudi Arabia's clubs, is an amazing opportunity for me. I came here to win championships and titles.”
Adapting to the Roshn League
Two games in, Watkins already has a taste of the league’s rhythm and demands.
“The tempo of play is very good,” he noted. “It is natural for the pace of the match to slow down at times because of the high temperatures, but the league features players of extremely high quality, and I will adapt quickly to the weather conditions.”
The heat is real. So is his determination to adjust.
Watkins admits he is still short of peak condition after missing pre-season preparations, but he framed that as a temporary hurdle rather than an excuse.
“I did not take part in the pre-season preparations, so I am currently working on fully regaining my fitness and physical rhythm. Wait for me soon, as you may see me score more than one goal in a single match in the upcoming games.”
Promise to the fans
If Al-Hilal supporters wanted a statement, they got one.
“I promise the fans to score plenty of goals,” Watkins declared, setting his own bar high from the outset.
Against Al-Shabab he played the full match, a useful test in what he called “different conditions.” He stressed that he is not the only one learning on the job.
“Today I played a full match, in different conditions. There are new elements that recently joined Al-Hilal, and I am one of them, and we are all going through a phase of integration and adaptation at the moment.”
The message is clear: this is a project still knitting itself together, but the early signs are positive.
“The harmony and chemistry between us will certainly develop over time,” he concluded, “but the most important thing for us today is to achieve the win and collect all the points.”
For Al-Hilal, the points are already stacking up. If Watkins’ words are any guide, the goals are coming next.
