Ollie Watkins begins his new chapter with Al-Hilal under significant pressure, as the English forward attempts to succeed where one recent Premier League arrival flourished and another struggled.
The Saudi club have turned to a striker from England’s top flight to strengthen their attack, but Watkins’ move carries a wider challenge. His performances will be judged not only on their own merits, but also against Al-Hilal’s recent record with Premier League forwards.
The contrast is stark. Aleksandar Mitrovic became one of the club’s most influential players after arriving from Fulham, while Darwin Nunez failed to provide the expected impact following his move from Liverpool and subsequently left on loan.
Mitrovic brought considerable experience of English football with him when he joined Al-Hilal. Yet the Serbia international needed very little time to show that the club had made the right decision.
During his first season with Al-Hilal, Mitrovic produced outstanding attacking numbers. He scored 28 goals in the Roshn Saudi League, finishing second in the race for the Golden Boot, and played a prominent role as the club won four domestic trophies during his time in Saudi Arabia.
His success helped reinforce the idea that Al-Hilal could find another high-quality forward in the Premier League. When Mitrovic departed in the summer of 2025, after suffering an injury that prompted widespread debate about its possible effect on his future, the club sought a replacement and settled on Nunez.
That decision created the backdrop to Watkins’ arrival. The question now surrounding the Englishman is whether he can replicate Mitrovic’s outstanding contribution or follow the path taken by Nunez.
Nunez’s transfer from Liverpool was a major deal by any measure. Expectations were high that the Uruguay striker would lead Al-Hilal’s attack, particularly because of his profile and the reputation he had built during his career in Europe and the Premier League.
However, his time at the club did not develop as expected. Nunez struggled to establish the consistency required, and his influence gradually diminished. He eventually fell out of the plans before leaving Al-Hilal on loan for Al-Diriyah.
Watkins therefore arrives with an unusually clear point of comparison. Mitrovic left behind remarkable figures and a collection of trophies, while Nunez’s spell ended before he could make the anticipated contribution. Watkins is now being asked to show that moving from the Premier League does not automatically lead to either of those outcomes.
The pressure is increased by the fee Al-Hilal have paid to secure him. Supporters are unlikely to view Watkins simply as a new signing; comparisons with Mitrovic and Nunez will be inevitable, leaving the 30-year-old with little room for a slow start or a prolonged period of adjustment.
There are, though, qualities in Watkins’ game that could help him succeed. He has extensive Premier League experience and is capable of running in behind defenders, pressing opponents and attacking the penalty area. His pace and movement could also suit an attacking system built around quick transitions, elements that may fit the approach of Italian manager Simone Inzaghi.
Watkins will also join a different Al-Hilal side from the teams represented by Mitrovic and Nunez. He will have new attacking options around him, including Gabriel Martinelli and Crysencio Summerville. That could provide greater support and ensure the responsibility for creating chances is not placed on one player alone.
Yet a squad packed with attacking talent can also create its own demands. Watkins will need to develop an understanding with his new team-mates quickly and adapt to the style Inzaghi wants Al-Hilal to play. His success will not be measured by the number of big names around him, but by how effectively he turns that quality into goals.
Watkins is not arriving merely to replace a departed forward. He is stepping into a continuing Al-Hilal story involving Premier League strikers: Mitrovic set a formidable standard, Nunez left an unfinished chapter and the Englishman now has the opportunity to write the third.
Only his goals on the pitch will decide whether Watkins can end that difficult sequence and restore the success associated with Mitrovic, or whether his Al-Hilal career follows the same disappointing course as Nunez’s.
