Ollie Watkins

Set in the Warwickshire countryside, The Belfry has long been associated with sporting excellence. Best known for its Ryder Cup history, it is a venue where some of golf’s most memorable moments have unfolded. On this occasion, however, The Belfry provides the backdrop for the latest Sports World cover shoot, its calm surroundings offering a quiet contrast to the pace of Ollie Watkins’ life over the past few seasons. The Aston Villa striker arrives at a moment when life, both on and off the pitch, has shifted in meaningful ways.

Professionally, the past few seasons have seen him establish himself as one of the Premier League’s most dependable forwards. The cover shoot, produced in collaboration with Vacheron Constantin, brings those worlds together. To mark the occasion, Ollie wears the newly unveiled Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Burgundy Dial, a striking evolution of last year’s burgundy-dial Overseas Perpetual Calendar. Away from football, life has entered a new chapter. Ollie married last summer and now balances the demands of top-level football with family life and two young children. For a player whose career began far from the Premier League spotlight, the present moment carries a particular sense of perspective. When the conversation begins, it is not trophies or accolades that he chooses to highlight first, but the life he has built away from the game.

“Yeah, life is amazing,” he says. “I got married in the summer, I’ve got two beautiful kids and an amazing family. When it comes to football – personally and collectively as a team – things are going really well. It couldn’t be better.”

For elite footballers, the schedule rarely allows for long pauses to appreciate moments like these. Training, travel and competition dominate much of the year. Yet for Ollie, the wedding offered a rare opportunity to step away briefly from the rhythm of the season and celebrate something far more personal. The celebration itself reflected that sense of occasion. Held in the South of France, the wedding brought together around a hundred of the couple’s closest friends and family for a long summer weekend overlooking the Mediterranean. Events unfolded across several iconic Riviera locations, from the gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild to the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, with music, speeches and celebrations stretching long into the evening.

For Ollie and Ellie, it was less about spectacle than simply having the people closest to them together in one place. “It was an unbelievable experience,” says Ollie. “Having all your favourite people in one place – I couldn’t have had it any other way. It’s definitely a moment I’ll cherish forever.” The emphasis on family is not incidental. Throughout the conversation, Ollie returns repeatedly to the importance of the people around him. In a sport where careers can change rapidly and expectations constantly evolve, that sense of grounding remains central to how he approaches life. “I think they’d say I’m a family man,” he says, when asked how the people closest to him would describe him. “I like to think I’m generous and thoughtful of other people, and that I always look out for the people closest to me.”

Those foundations have played a defining role in his journey. Ollie’s rise to the top of English football was not shaped by early headlines or immediate stardom. Instead, it developed steadily through persistence and the support of those who believed in him from the beginning. “My family has been crucial to my journey,” he says. “Coming up through the lower leagues, they’ve been there with me the whole way. Like I’ve said, family is everything to me. Having a close-knit group around you is really important, and they’ve given me the foundations to go and achieve what I want to in my career. They’re always there supporting me.”

That journey began in Devon, where Ollie first emerged at Exeter City before earning a move to Brentford. It was there that his game really started to take shape, eventually earning him a move to Aston Villa – a step that placed him firmly on the Premier League stage. Since arriving in Birmingham, he has continued to develop season by season. What began as raw energy and work rate has evolved into something more complete, with Ollie now widely regarded as one of the league’s most reliable goalscorers. With that recognition inevitably comes attention. “It’s difficult, because you’re judged on and off the pitch with everything you do,” he says.

“So it’s about having good people around you who support you. But you also just have to block the noise out and focus on the job at hand – keep working hard every day and keep trying to achieve your goals.”

Despite the intensity that surrounds elite football, Ollie’s life away from the pitch remains deliberately uncomplicated. When the schedule allows, his focus shifts away from stadiums and training grounds to something far more familiar. “Honestly, my life is quite simple,” he says. “I like to relax – go out for a coffee, maybe go to the spa, have a massage, spend time with my kids. Just chill out really, because you don’t get too much time at home during the season. So it’s about enjoying those moments when you can.”

Like many modern athletes, Ollie has also developed an appreciation for style beyond the pitch. It has become part of modern football culture, though his own approach tends to favour simplicity over statement. “I like to keep things quite clean and simple when it comes to fashion,” says Ollie. “I’m not really into wearing loud pieces. I just stick to things that make me feel comfortable day to day and wear whatever I feel best in. “I think the way you dress can say a lot about you. If you’re always dressed nicely it presents you in a certain way and can open up opportunities. It creates a good image.”

That philosophy is reflected in his collaboration with Alo Yoga, the Los Angeles-based label that has quickly established itself as one of the defining names in modern activewear. Known for blending performance-driven clothing with a more refined, everyday aesthetic, the brand has built a following that stretches well beyond the gym. “To start with, I was already wearing their clothes authentically,” he says. “So when the opportunity came up it felt like a no-brainer. We align in the way we think and I genuinely love wearing their clothes.” Versatility, he explains, is what makes the brand particularly appealing.

“That’s what I like about it. I can wear the gym gear when I’m training, but then I can go out for a coffee afterwards and throw on some trousers or a coat and it doesn’t feel like I’m still wearing gym clothes. It’s nice that it has that versatility where you can switch it up.” Watches have also become a growing interest in recent years, something Ollie has quietly explored away from the spotlight. Among the brands that have particularly caught his attention, Vacheron Constantin stands out. Founded in 1755, the Geneva-based manufacturer occupies a unique place within the industry.

Known for its craftsmanship, heritage and understated approach to watchmaking, Vacheron Constantin has long been regarded as a brand for those who truly understand the craft – one that attracts collectors and enthusiasts rather than chasing attention. “I like the fact that Vacheron Constantin is a bit different to the more mainstream brands,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong, they’re still a huge name, but a lot of people tend to lean towards certain other watch brands. I like being a bit different. I’m really interested in watches, so for me it was something I was drawn to.” While fashion and watches form part of the modern athlete’s world, Ollie remains conscious that football represents only one chapter of a much longer life. Like many players who have dedicated themselves to the game from a young age, the question of what comes after football remains an open one.

“That’s the million-dollar question,” says Ollie. “I try to think about it a lot and figure out what passion I might want to pursue after football. But it’s difficult when you’ve spent more than 20 years doing the same thing – playing the game you love since you were a kid. So yeah, I’m still figuring that out.” “After football I just want security – to be happy with my family, having the freedom to travel, see new places and create memories around the world. I haven’t spent too much time in the Caribbean, so I’d like to explore it more.

I’d also love to take my kids to the Maldives, because I’m not sure how long it will be around for.” For now, however, the focus remains firmly on the present and on what could still lie ahead in the coming seasons. The months ahead are shaping up to be among the most important of Ollie’s career. Aston Villa remain firmly in the hunt for a coveted Champions League place and continue to progress in the Europa League, where there is a genuine opportunity to lift the trophy. Beyond club football, the summer also brings the prospect of a World Cup, a tournament in which Ollie will be hoping to play a significant role for England. “Winning the Europa League would be massive – personally and for the club,” he says.

“I’ve never won a major trophy like that before and it’s been a long time since the club has lifted something like that. So to do that, and then push to finish as high as possible in the league and bring Champions League football back to Villa Park next season.”

As the conversation draws to a close, the final question turns to legacy. In a career that has already carried him from the lower leagues to the upper reaches of the Premier League, how would he ultimately like to be remembered? Ollie pauses for a moment before answering. “Someone who always fought for everything, always stopped and gave people the time of day. Someone people enjoyed having around – and someone they’ll look back on and say they miss having around the training ground.”