Ollie Watkins compares Saudi Pro League to Premier League after debut goal

Ollie Watkins scored on his debut for Al-Hilal in a 3-0 victory against Al-Ahli on Tuesday. Following the match, the 30-year-old forward stated the Saudi Pro League matches the physical and quality standards of the English Premier League. Watkins joined the Riyadh club last week in a reported £51 million move from Aston Villa. He joins an Al-Hilal squad that features Crysencio Summerville, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Theo Hernandez, and Yassine Bounou. His teammate, Ivan Toney, who transferred to Al-Ahli from Brentford in 2024, previously shared a similar assessment of the league's caliber. Al-Hilal is managed by Simone Inzaghi and is expected to finalize the acquisition of Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal for £60 million.

• 6:44 PMYahoo Sports — England star claims Saudi Pro League on par with Premier League after debut goal