Ollie Watkins signs a new long-term contract at Aston Villa, keeping the striker at the club until 2028.
Ollie Watkins has signed a new long-term contract at Aston Villa.
The 27-year-old has made a prolific start to the 2023-24 season, scoring seven times – including two hat-tricks – in 12 appearances across all competitions so far.
Watkins’s treble in Villa’s 6-1 drubbing of Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend saw him become the first Villa player to score two hat-tricks in a single campaign since Andy Gray in the 1970s.
The striker’s form earned him a recall to the England squad for the October internationals, and he has now been handed a new long-term deal at Villa Park.
Watkins’s previous contract was not due to expire until 2025, but Villa have moved to tie him down beyond that amid reported interest from Chelsea.
The exact length of the contract has not been specified by the club, but it is thought to be a five-year deal that will keep him at Villa Park until 2028.
The hat-trick against Brighton also took Watkins up to 50 goals for Villa, reaching that tally in 127 games across all competitions – including 44 goals in 116 Premier League outings.
Watkins began his professional career with League Two side Exeter City and also spent time on loan in the National League South with Weston-Super-Mare, before joining Brentford and ultimately earning his move to the Premier League with Villa.
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