Ollie Watkins says the Saudi Pro League is already producing football of Premier League quality after scoring on his competitive debut for Al Hilal.
The England international came off the bench to seal Al Hilal’s 3-0 victory over Al Ahli with a late back-post header, just days after joining the club from Aston Villa.
Watkins, 30, said he was impressed by the intensity and quality of the match after making his first competitive appearance in Saudi Arabia.
“The level I saw here today was honestly of Premier League quality,” he said, describing the game as physically demanding and technically strong.
The striker said Al Hilal’s performance at the FIFA Club World Cup also influenced his decision to move to Saudi Arabia.
He said watching the club compete against top opposition convinced him that Al Hilal could give him a strong chance of winning major trophies.
“I want to come here. I want to win trophies and I think this team is going to give me the best possible chance of doing that,” Watkins said.
Despite scoring on his debut, Watkins admitted he was still short of full fitness after only a few training sessions with his new teammates.
He said he expected to improve quickly and was confident of getting plenty of chances, particularly with the quality of players around him.
“I’m a bit rusty at the moment, only had a couple of days training, so once I get in the groove, I’m going to be good,” he said.
Watkins also revealed his frustration at being flagged offside shortly before scoring his debut goal.
The forward ended a six-year spell at Aston Villa after making 278 appearances and scoring 108 goals for the club. He also helped Villa win the Europa League last season.
His departure was part of a major summer overhaul at Villa, with several other key players also leaving.
Villa, meanwhile, are still searching for their first Premier League win of the season after a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on Monday.
