Al-Ahly Saudi Club handed Aston Villa’s English striker, Ollie Watkins, the newcomer to Al-Hilal, a ticket to the history books, only about 48 hours after announcing his signing.
Al Hilal will host Al Ahly at Kingdom Arena on Tuesday, in a postponed match from the third round of the Saudi Roshan League.
Italian coach Simone Inzaghi included Watkins at the beginning of the second half instead of young Ivorian striker Mohamed Kader Meite. The switch came only 48 hours after Al Hilal signed him.
On Sunday, the club announced the deal, including Watkins from Aston Villa for a sum of about 60 million euros, according to press reports.
According to Eight, the channels broadcasting the Saudi League, Watkins became the first English player to play with Al Hilal in the club’s long history. It is a milestone that will never be repeated.
His premise made perfect sense. Al-Hilal advanced by two goals for Al-Khair, and Al-Ahly had played the entire second half with only 10 players after Turkish defender Merih Demiral was sent off at the end of the first half.
Watkins became Al Hilal’s first striker in the new season, after the departure of Frenchman Karim Benzema, Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, and Brazilian Marcos Leonardo in the current summer transfer period.
