Ollie Watkins

Recognized as the EFL Young Player of the Year in April 2017, Ollie Watkins culminated a successful tenure at Exeter City, where he signed a scholarship deal in 2012. After scoring 30 goals for the Under-18 team in their 2013–14 Football League Youth Alliance South West Conference-winning season, he secured a two-year professional contract in April 2014 and made his senior debut the following month. Following a loan spell at Weston-super-Mare where he netted 10 goals in 25 appearances, Watkins broke into Exeter City’s first team during the 2015–16 season. His impactful performances earned him both the Football League Young Player of the Month and PFA Fans’ Player of the Month awards in March 2016, and in the 2016–17 season, he recorded 52 appearances, 16 goals, and 13 assists.

Continuing his impressive trajectory, Watkins became the first Aston Villa player to score in five consecutive Premier League matches in February 2023. In August 2023, he secured Aston Villa’s UEFA Europa Conference League group stage qualification with a hat-trick in the play-off round, and signed a new contract with the club in October 2023, extending his commitment until 2028. In May 2024, he received both the Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Season awards for Aston Villa and won the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for his 13 assists during the 2023–24 season. He represented England at UEFA Euro 2024, scoring a crucial winning goal in the semi-final against the Netherlands, and further solidified his legacy in May 2025, becoming Aston Villa’s all-time top Premier League scorer with 75 goals.