Arsenal and Chelsea dealt transfer blow after £27m Aston Villa decision

Ollie Watkins has confirmed his long-term future to Aston Villa, after signing a long-term contract with the club.

His contract according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein will now expire in the summer of 2028, keeping him at the Villains for another four years.

Watkins' previous deal had been due to expire in the summer of 2025, but now there is more security on his contract, and Villa can now command a larger fee should any club remain interested in him, despite his decision to sign a new deal.

It’s been a week to remember for Watkins, who was recalled to the England squad by Gareth Southgate. The 27-year-old earned a recall for the first time since March 2022, and is now hoping to add to his England caps and goal tally of seven goals in two games.

Watkins has been Villa's leading marksman this season with seven goals in 12 games. He scored a hat-trick against Brighton & Hove Albion last week in addition to his first league goal of the season which was the winning goal in the 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

Watkins has been at the club since the summer of 2020 and joined them for a then club-record fee of £28m from Brentford, who had been in the Championship at the time. He has gone on to make 128 appearances, and in that timefrme has scored 50 goals and registered 16 assists.

Last month it was reported that both Arsenal and Chelsea had held an interest in signing Watkins, and been interested in pursuing a deal in the winter transfer window.

Both clubs had been drawing up their shortlists and a striker was on the agenda, and according to Football Transfers, the Gunners' transfer director Edu had held talks with Watkins' agent Paulo Vernazza.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who is currently serving an FA ban because of betting breaches, now seems a more realistic target given Watkins recent news.