Aston Villa have signed Brentford striker Ollie Watkins for a club record £28million fee, the Premier League club have confirmed.
The 24-year-old forward reunites with Dean Smith, who brought him to the Bees for just £1.8m from Exeter City in 2017.
Watkins is able to play as a winger or striker
Watkins was linked with a host of clubs this summer but has penned a deal with Villa, who avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day of the 2019/20 campaign.
The £28m fee beats the £22m sum Villa paid Club Brugge to sign Wesley last summer.
He managed to score six goals before suffering a serious knee injury, while Mbwana Samatta, a £10m January arrival from Genk, has managed to find the net just twice.
Watkins was named last season’s Championship Player of the Year after scoring 26 goals as Brentford reached the play-off final, only to lose to west London rivals Fulham in the Wembley showpiece.
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Bees boss Thomas Frank previously dubbed him a ‘beast’ and coachs dream, and prepared for Watkins’ departure by bringing in Ivan Toney for £6m from Peterborough.
Dean Smith, the Villa head coach, said: Ollie has developed into one of the most sought-after strikers in the country and we are looking forward to seeing him show his great qualities in an Aston Villa shirt.
He is a hugely determined character who has both the ability and personality to succeed at the highest level.”
Watkins added: I am so excited to join Aston Villa and to reunite with Dean Smith as my Head Coach. I cannot wait to wear the famous claret and blue in the Premier League.
Jamie O’Hara advises Jack Grealish to leave Aston Villa to make the next step in his career
I want to do something special here and score some goals.
Watkins is the second Championship player Villa have signed this summer as they completed a £16m deal for Nottingham Forest right-back Matty Cash last week.
The Midlands club also want to recruit a new goalkeeper and have been linked with swoops for Arsenal’s Emiliano Martinez and Sergio Romero of Manchester United.
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