Ollie Watkins praised the standard of football in Saudi Arabia following his goal-scoring debut for Al Hilal. The forward, who recently transferred from Aston Villa, came off the bench to help secure a 3-0 victory over Al Ahli. Watkins’ header in the match marked an encouraging start to his tenure with the Saudi club.

Watkins expressed confidence in the quality of the Saudi league, stating that the level of play he encountered was comparable to the Premier League. He described the match as physically demanding and of a high technical standard. The England international revealed that his decision to join Al Hilal was influenced by the club’s strong showing at the FIFA Club World Cup, which he had observed prior to signing.

“I knew straight away to join when the offer came,” Watkins remarked, adding that he is motivated by the prospect of winning trophies. He views his new club as providing a platform to achieve further success in his career.

Despite only having limited time to train with his new teammates before making an impact on the pitch, Watkins remains optimistic about his development. “I’m a bit rusty at the moment, only had a couple of days training so, once I get in the groove, I’m going to be good,” he said. He anticipates that regular playing time will create numerous goal-scoring opportunities and help him regain full match fitness.

Watkins’ debut performance underlines Al Hilal’s ambition to reinforce their squad with experienced international players as they seek domestic and regional success. His immediate contribution in front of goal was seen as a positive sign for both the player and club moving forward.