Watkins Returns to Aston Villa Training, Apologizes to Teammates After Brighton Absence

Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa's striker, returned to team training today, Monday, and apologized to his teammates after missing the match against Brighton, which ended in a 4-0 defeat for Villa, according to sources close to The Athletic.

Ollie Watkins had missed the team's training sessions before the match after informing the club of his desire to leave during the current transfer window, following Aston Villa's rejection of a fourth offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal worth £45 million.

After the defeat against Brighton, coach Unai Emery refused to confirm whether Watkins had requested not to participate in the match, simply stating: "This question is directed to him, and his agent can answer it." Emery added that the team is focused on maintaining their mentality despite the challenging result.

Despite Aston Villa's insistence on keeping their English striker, the club has offered him a new contract extending until 2030. However, his future remains unresolved. At the same time, the club has begun to formulate alternative plans in case of his departure, with Nicolas Jackson being a primary target, alongside Rafael Leão and Jean-Philippe Mateta.