Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has expressed his readiness for “another big year” after being included in the PFA Team of the Year.
Watkins played a key role in propelling Villa to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, scoring 19 goals as Unai Emery’s team exceeded expectations to secure a spot in the Champions League. He received his latest honor at the PFA Awards in Manchester on Tuesday night.
Watkins was named in the Team of the Year alongside stars like Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, who helped Manchester City clinch the title, as well as several Arsenal players, including Declan Rice. During the ceremony, Watkins shared his excitement on Instagram, posting, “PFA Team of the Season, ready for another big year ahead!”
His post received a warm response from Rice, who commented, “unreal mate.” Former Villa teammate Moussa Diaby also reacted with three heart-eye emojis. Rice and Watkins were teammates for England at Euro 2024, where the Three Lions reached the final but lost to Spain.
This weekend, Watkins and Rice will face off in the Premier League when Arsenal visits Villa Park.
