Ollie Watkins marked his Saudi Pro League debut with a goal as Al Hilal continued their perfect start to the new season with a 3-0 victory over Al Ahli Saudi at the Kingdom Arena on Monday. The 30-year-old striker completed his £50 million transfer from Aston Villa on Sunday night……
Ollie Watkins marked his Saudi Pro League debut with a goal as Al Hilal continued their perfect start to the new season with a 3-0 victory over Al Ahli Saudi at the Kingdom Arena on Monday.
The 30-year-old striker completed his £50 million transfer from Aston Villa on Sunday night before coming off the bench to score Al Hilal’s third goal, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Crysencio Summerville putting the hosts in control.
“I am happy to be here, it was a wonderful start, and I look forward to playing more matches here at our stadium,” Watkins told Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.
The victory was Al Hilal’s fourth in as many league matches under Simone Inzaghi, moving them above Riyadh rivals Al Nassr on goal difference.
Milinkovic-Savic opened the scoring in the ninth minute after beating the offside trap before Summerville doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute with an impressive solo effort.
Al Ahli’s hopes of mounting a comeback suffered another setback shortly before half-time when influential defender Merih Demiral was sent off in added time.
Watkins was introduced at the beginning of the second half and completed a memorable debut when he headed home Sultan Mandash’s cross at the back post in the 86th minute.
The England international said he was impressed by the quality and physical intensity of the Saudi Pro League, comparing the standard with that of the Premier League.
“It was a very good start,” Watkins added. “The level I saw here today was honestly of Premier League quality. The match was very strong physically and demanding, and the quality was extremely high.
“It was an amazing start; I did not expect it to be like this. When I went down to the pitch for the first time to inspect it before the match, the atmosphere was wonderful; the fans were chanting my name. It is an amazing start.”
Meanwhile, Inzaghi provided an update on Gabriel Martinelli, who arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to complete his €70 million transfer from Arsenal.
Asked about the Brazilian forward’s imminent arrival, Inzaghi told Asharq Al-Awsat: “As for Martinelli, we will see him take part in the coming matches.”
The Saudi Pro League transfer window is scheduled to close on September 6.
