Ollie Watkins' wife, Ellie, has left Saudi Arabia with the couple's two children following Houthi missile strikes that have rattled the country. Watkins joined Al-Hilal from Aston Villa in a move reported to be worth £20 million a year, tax-free.
Ellie has returned to the UK with their daughter Amara, 5, and son Marley, 3, amid renewed hostilities between the Yemen-based Houthis and Saudi Arabia. In October, 13 people were killed in a Houthi air strike on Riyadh's airport, with two further people killed in a separate attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi authorities have been running reduced services since the strikes.
In a TikTok post reported by The Mirror, Ellie explained her decision to come home. "We've had a bit of a plot twist. I have come back to the UK for, hopefully, a little bit," she said. "I don't actually know when. There's just a little bit of conflict and things going on over in Saudi and we basically decided just to stay here until it calms down I felt like I needed to do that for the kids so there is some form of normality until we can get back out there and all be together."
There is no indication that Ollie Watkins himself will be returning to the UK soon, unless he receives an England call-up during the upcoming international break. He could have reason for optimism, having scored five goals and provided five assists in eight Saudi Pro League appearances for Al-Hilal this season. Manager Thomas Tuchel previously named Ivan Toney in last summer's FIFA World Cup squad despite the striker having moved to Saudi side Al-Ahli.
The regional instability has also disrupted football's wider calendar. The Asian Football Confederation has postponed the Asian Cup, which Saudi Arabia was set to host from January 7 to February 5, pushing the tournament back to December 23, 2027 through January 21, 2028. The AFC cited "substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions" arising from developments in the region and said the new dates will be submitted to FIFA for approval.
Saudi Arabia has also cancelled the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition event. Formula 1 is also anticipated to relocate its season-ending races, currently scheduled in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, though no official announcement has been made.
