Ollie Watkins

Key strength: Finishing

Clinical finisher

Aston Villa's push for European qualification finds its focal point in Ollie Watkins, the 30-year-old English striker who has been the attacking heartbeat of Unai Emery's revolution. With Villa sitting 5th in the table following their LWDWL sequence, Watkins remains central to their ambitions—his 12 goals and 2 assists across 45 appearances underscoring his reliability as a goal-scoring presence. Wearing the No. 11 shirt and valued at £30 million, Watkins has repaid Villa's £33 million investment from Brentford in 2020 many times over. His clinical finishing—bolstered by 75-rated shooting ability—has seen him amass over 3,000 minutes of action, proving his durability as much as his predatory instincts in the box. Now tied to Villa through 2028, Watkins operates as more than just a finisher; his movement creates space for midfield dynamos like John McGinn and defensive anchor Amadou Onana to exploit. As Villa jostle among the Premier League elite, Watkins' blend of consistency, experience, and proven goal-scoring pedigree makes him indispensable to their Champions League aspirations.