Ollie Watkins begins his latest challenge at Al-Hilal under intense scrutiny, with the English striker expected to strengthen the club’s attack while confronting the contrasting recent fortunes of Premier League forwards at the Saudi club.
Al-Hilal have turned to another striker from England’s top flight after mixed results with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Darwin Nunez. Mitrovic became one of the team’s most influential players, while Nunez struggled to make the anticipated impact before leaving on loan.
When Mitrovic joined Al-Hilal from Fulham, he arrived with extensive experience of English football. He needed little time to demonstrate why the club had decided to sign him.
In his first season with the Saudi side, the Serbia international produced outstanding attacking numbers, scoring 28 goals in the Roshn Saudi League and finishing second in the competition’s scoring race. He also played a major part in Al-Hilal winning four domestic trophies during his time with the club.
Mitrovic’s success encouraged Al-Hilal to consider another forward from the Premier League. However, his departure in the summer of 2025, following an injury that prompted widespread debate about its effect on his future, led the club’s hierarchy to search for a replacement.
Their choice was Nunez, whose move from Liverpool represented a major signing by any measure. Expectations were high that the Uruguay international would lead Al-Hilal’s attack, particularly because he had built a global reputation during his career in Europe and the Premier League.
The move, however, did not develop as expected. Nunez was unable to find the consistent run of appearances and performances required to establish himself, and his influence gradually diminished. He eventually fell out of favour and left Al-Hilal on loan for Al-Diriyah.
That sequence has created a clear challenge for Watkins. He arrives between two sharply different precedents: Mitrovic’s outstanding success and Nunez’s short-lived spell. The England international must now show that moving to Al-Hilal from the Premier League does not automatically lead to the same outcome.
The pressure will be increased by the size of the fee paid to secure Watkins. Supporters are unlikely to view him simply as a new signing; comparisons with Mitrovic and Nunez will come naturally, leaving the former Aston Villa forward with little room for error.
Watkins does, though, possess qualities that could suit his new surroundings. He has long experience of the Premier League and is effective at running in behind defenders, pressing opponents and attacking the penalty area. His ability to operate in a fast, transition-based attacking system could also fit the methods of Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi.
The team around him is another potentially important difference. Watkins will join a side featuring new attacking options such as Gabriel Martinelli and Crysencio Summerville, meaning he could receive greater support than either Mitrovic or Nunez had during their respective spells.
That strength in depth could also present a complication. Watkins will need to build an understanding with his new team-mates quickly and adapt to the style demanded by Inzaghi. His success will not be determined by the quality of the names around him alone, but by whether Al-Hilal can turn that quality into regular goals.
Watkins is therefore not arriving merely to replace a departed striker. He is entering a club with a developing history of Premier League forwards: Mitrovic left behind impressive numbers and a collection of trophies, while Nunez’s spell ended before he could fulfil expectations.
The next chapter belongs to Watkins. His goals will decide whether he can establish a new standard for English strikers at Al-Hilal, or whether his time in Saudi Arabia follows the less successful path set by Nunez.
