England striker Ollie Watkins’ spouse Ellie is fleeing Saudi Arabia to hunt ‘normality’ for his or her youngsters amid lethal missile assaults within the Center East.
Ollie and Ellie, 31 and 30, moved to Saudi capital Riyadh in the summertime with their two youngsters after a £51million switch from Aston Villa to Al-Hilal. However the current lethal re-escalation of the Houthi-Saudi Arabia battle has sparked a transfer again residence for the household – with no finish date in sight.
The Watkins household have two younger youngsters – Amara, 5, and three-year-old Marley. Ellie initially admitted she had damaged down in tears over the transfer however later felt ‘the whole lot was coming collectively’. Ellie and the kids at the moment are fleeing.
‘We have had a little bit of a plot twist,’ Ellie mentioned in a submit on TikTok immediately. ‘I’ve come again to the UK for, hopefully, a bit bit. I do not truly know when.
Main airports in Saudi Arabia are working decreased providers after a missile assault by Yemen’s Houthi motion on Riyadh’s airport killed 13 folks. Two folks have been additionally killed after an assault at King Fahd Worldwide Airport in Dammam.
‘There’s just a bit little bit of battle and issues occurring over in Saudi and we principally determined simply to remain right here till it calms down,’ Ellie added.
Ollie Watkins and spouse Ellie moved to Saudi Arabia following his £50m summer time switch (Supply: Instagram/Ellie Watkins)
Ellie has now returned to the UK amid missile assaults in Saudi (Supply: Instagram/Ellie Watkins)
‘I felt like I wanted to do this for the youngsters so there may be some type of normality till we will get again on the market and all be collectively.’
Husband Ollie is hoping for a call-up to the England squad this week and can proceed to play within the Saudi Professional League whereas his household reside within the UK.
Saudi soccer consultants have steered the striker, who has 5 targets and 5 assists in eight Saudi Professional League appearances up to now, earns ‘a minimal of £20million a yr’ – tax-free.
Al-Hilal play Shabab AlAhli, of Dubai, within the Asian Champions League immediately.
Ollie and Ellie have been settling into a brand new residence, redecorating and discovering colleges for his or her youngsters in Riyadh. These plans have now been derailed.
In the meantime, soccer’s 2027 Asia Cup has been delayed by virtually a yr amid the continuing Center East disaster. The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition occasion has additionally been known as off whereas System One is predicted to maneuver its end-of-season races.
Ellie had mentioned shifting to Saudi Arabia has ‘been rather a lot’ however ‘the whole lot’s lastly coming collectively’ – posting photographs of their new life collectively (Supply: Instagram/Ellie Watkins)
The WAG shared a snap of their fashionable lounge as she added: ‘All the things’s lastly coming collectively and we’re so pleased in our new residence’ (Supply: Instagram/Ellie Watkins)
Lower than two months earlier than it was because of kick off, the Asia Cup was immediately postponed till December 2027.
It makes the match not solely a logistical nightmare for the 24 taking part groups but additionally raises critical security considerations.
A press release from the Asian Soccer Confederation mentioned: ‘The Organising Committee for AFC Asian Cup accepted rescheduling the flagship nationwide workforce match contemplating the present distinctive circumstances arising from developments within the area, together with substantial logistical complexities and journey disruptions.
‘The brand new dates of the match (December 23 2027 to January 21 2028) shall be offered to FIFA for approval.
‘Distinctive circumstances have been created for the organisation and supply of the Competitors as initially scheduled, making the postponement essential within the curiosity of all taking part groups, officers, spectators and different stakeholders.’
Nevertheless, the delay boosts a number of Premier League golf equipment, who not face dropping gamers for as much as a month of the season. Japan had ten Premier League gamers obtainable for choice, with Aston Villa doubtlessly dropping first-choice goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
