Ollie Watkins' wife Ellie has fled Saudi Arabia with their children after Houthi missile attacks rocked the nation, returning to the UK as regional tensions escalate.
Watkins swapped Aston Villa for Al-Hilal in a blockbuster switch believed to be worth £20 million annually, tax-free. But Ellie has opted to head back to Britain with their daughter Amara (5) and son Marley (3) as tensions between the Yemen-based Houthis and Saudi forces intensify once more.
Deadly attacks and airport disruption
In October, 13 victims died in a Houthi airstrike targeting Riyadh's airport. Another two fatalities occurred during a separate assault on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi authorities have subsequently scaled back airport operations following the barrage of missile strikes.
Amidst the worrying unrest, Ellie disclosed she's made the call to bring their children home to the UK. Speaking via TikTok, she explained: "We've had a bit of a plot twist. I have come back to the UK for, hopefully, a little bit."
"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."
Watkins' form and international prospects
There's also no indication that Watkins will be heading back to the UK anytime soon, unless he receives an England call-up for the forthcoming international break. Watkins might fancy his chances of getting the nod from Thomas Tuchel, having kicked off the campaign with five goals and five assists in just eight Saudi Pro League outings.
Tuchel also handed Ivan Toney a spot in last summer's World Cup squad, despite his switch to Saudi outfit Al-Ahli. For Watkins' club, it's business as usual. Yet regional instability has led to the Asian Cup, set to take place from January 7 to February 5, being delayed over safety worries.
Tournament postponements and regional impact
Saudi Arabia was due to stage the tournament, but it's now been moved to December 23, 2027 through January 21, 2028. In a statement, the Asian Football Confederation said: "The Organising Committee for AFC Asian Cup approved to reschedule the flagship national team tournament in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions."
"The new dates of the tournament will be presented to FIFA for approval. Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organisation and delivery of the Competition as originally scheduled, making the postponement necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders."
The nation has also cancelled the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition tournament. Furthermore, F1 is anticipated to relocate its season-ending races, scheduled for Qatar and Abu Dhabi, though official confirmation is yet to be announced.
