Retro Ollie Watkins Shirt – From Non-League to England Hero

Watkins began his senior career at Exeter City, coming through their academy system and making his mark in League Two before attracting interest from higher up the pyramid. In 2017 he made the move to Brentford, a club then playing in the Championship under the analytically-driven ownership of Matthew Benham. It was at Griffin Park – and later the Brentford Community Stadium – where Watkins truly announced himself to a wider audience. His ability to hold up play, run in behind, and convert chances at a high rate made him one of the Championship's standout performers over several seasons. The 2019-20 season was particularly remarkable, with Watkins helping fire Brentford to the Championship play-offs and establishing himself as a genuine top-flight prospect.

In September 2020, Aston Villa broke their transfer record to sign Watkins for approximately £28 million. It was a significant bet, and Watkins repaid it almost immediately. He scored on his Premier League debut and never looked back. Under Dean Smith and then Steven Gerrard and ultimately Unai Emery, Watkins evolved into one of Villa's most important players. The 2023-24 season under Emery was arguably his finest, with Watkins finishing as one of the Premier League's top scorers and helping Villa qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in decades – a monumental achievement for the club and a personal landmark for the forward.

His international career with England gathered momentum in tandem with his club form. He became a key member of the squad under Gareth Southgate and delivered one of the most dramatic moments in recent England history – coming off the bench at Euro 2024 to score a last-gasp winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final, sending England to the final. That goal cemented Watkins' place in English football folklore and transformed the retro Ollie Watkins shirt into a collector's item almost overnight.

Watkins' development has been shaped enormously by the people around him throughout his career. At Brentford, head coach Thomas Frank played a crucial role in refining Watkins' game, instilling tactical discipline and helping him understand the importance of pressing and movement in a structured system. Frank's faith in Watkins' potential was instrumental in turning a raw talent into a complete forward.

At Aston Villa, the arrival of Unai Emery in late 2022 proved transformative. The experienced Spanish coach unlocked a new dimension in Watkins, giving him the freedom and tactical support to operate as a genuine number nine while still contributing to the team's defensive shape. Alongside teammates such as Leon Bailey, Douglas Luiz, and John McGinn, Watkins became the focal point of a Villa side that punched far above expectations.

In the England setup, his relationship with fellow forwards such as Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka helped elevate his game on the international stage. Manager Gareth Southgate trusted Watkins enough to hand him defining moments, and the player repaid that trust emphatically. Rivals across the Premier League's top defences – from Virgil van Dijk to Ruben Dias – have spoken about the difficulty of marking a player who never stops running.

The shirts worn by Ollie Watkins across his career tell the story of his remarkable rise. The claret and blue of Brentford – worn during those thrilling Championship campaigns – hold a special place for supporters who witnessed his early breakthrough. The home and away shirts from the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, featuring the classic Brentford bee crest, are particularly cherished among fans who followed the club before the Premier League era.

However, it is the Aston Villa claret and blue that most collectors associate with Watkins at his peak. The Villa home shirts from the 2023-24 Champions League qualification season are already iconic, representing a historic moment for the club. Watkins' number 11 shirt in Villa's traditional claret with sky blue sleeves is visually striking and instantly recognisable. The away shirts from that era, often featuring bolder colour choices, are equally popular among collectors.

The England shirt – specifically the white away shirt associated with Euro 2024 – carries enormous emotional weight following his semi-final heroics. A retro Ollie Watkins shirt in the Three Lions' colours from that tournament represents a genuine piece of English football history, and demand has reflected that significance considerably.