Ollie Watkins

Exeter City

Early career

Watkins joined Exeter City's academy at Under-11 level, having previously failed a trial with the club at the age of nine in 2003. He rose through the youth ranks to sign a scholarship deal in 2012. In April 2014, he signed a two-year professional contract after scoring 30 goals for the Under-18 team in its 2013–14 Football League Youth Alliance South West Conference-winning season. Watkins won his maiden first-team call up when he was named as a substitute for the final League Two match of the 2013–14 season versus Hartlepool United and made his senior debut when he replaced Aaron Dawson after 77 minutes of the 2–0 victory. Watkins was frequently named as a substitute by Paul Tisdale during the first three months of the 2014–15 season, but despite scoring his first senior goal (a late consolation in a 3–1 Football League Trophy second round defeat to Coventry City on 7 October 2014), he made just three appearances before departing on loan to Weston-super-Mare for the remainder of the season in December 2014. On 8 December 2014, Watkins joined Conference South club Weston-super-Mare on a one-month loan. Through repeated extensions of the loan, Watkins would remain with the club until the end of the 2014–15 season. He featured regularly for the team, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances before returning to Exeter at the end of the season.

2015–2017: First-team breakthrough

After failing to be named in a first-team squad…

On 18 March 2021, Watkins was named in Gareth Southgate's England squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against San Marino, Albania and Poland. On 25 March 2021, Watkins made his England debut as a second-half substitute in a 5–0 victory over San Marino at Wembley. He subsequently scored his first England goal with his first shot on target in an England shirt. Watkins was named in the provisional England squad for UEFA Euro 2020 in May 2021. However, he was not selected in the final 26-man squad for the tournament. Watkins made his first start for England on 29 March 2022 at Wembley in a friendly against the Ivory Coast, scoring the opening goal in the 30th minute of the 3–0 win. Watkins was not included in England's squad for any of their 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches or the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was recalled to the squad in October 2023 for the first time in 18 months and, on 13 October, started in a friendly with Australia, scoring the only goal of the match. He was named in England's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024. In England's semi-final against the Netherlands, Watkins along with Cole Palmer came off the bench in the 81st minute, with the latter assisting him to score the winning goal in the 90th minute, sending England to the final. On 22 May 2026, Watkins was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, Watkins was frequently described by media sources as one of the best centre-forwards in Europe and the world. Watkins has described himself as "a number 10", and in 2017 named Thierry Henry as his idol, saying "I try to base my game on his, by driving at defenders and looking to make something happen when I get the ball". He is also capable of playing as a winger, and was adapted into a more traditional centre-forward at Brentford during the 2019–20 season. Under Unai Emery at Aston Villa, Watkins began to play as a number 9, not only scoring but setting up goals for teammates. He has been described as a complete forward and received praise for his attacking runs, speed, work ethic, finishing and versatility.

Oliver George Arthur Watkins was born on 30 December 1995 at Torbay Hospital in Torquay, Devon. He is of Jamaican descent and professes to be an Arsenal supporter. He was raised by his mother Delsi-May, who is a professional singer. Watkins grew up in Newton Abbot and he attended South Dartmoor Community College in Ashburton together with Matt Jay and Jamie Reid. He began playing grassroots football with the academy of Buckland Athletic at six years of age. Thereafter, he joined neighbouring Newton Town F.C. for one season and also represented the Devon County Football Association alongside Sam Gallagher. On 18 May 2025, Watkins married his long time partner Ellie Alderson, with whom he has two children. Watkins's former Brentford teammate, Neal Maupay, named his son Ollie after Watkins.