Watkins Scores on Al Hilal Debut: 'Saudi League as Strong as the Premier League' – Truth or Just a Fleeting Emotion?

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In the 86th minute, the ball was floated into the box, Ollie Watkins rose highest and headed the ball into the net. Just days after arriving at Al Hilal, the English striker had his first goal. He turned to celebrate with his new teammates, a seemingly simple moment that opened a much larger debate: Is the Saudi league really as strong as the Premier League, as Watkins claimed after the match? Watkins, 30, left Aston Villa after six years to join Al Hilal on a three-year contract. He did not arrive at the end of his career like many stars before him. He had just won the Europa League and remained in the England squad preparing for the 2026 World Cup. Therefore, his statement carries more weight than praise from players past their prime. "I've played in the Premier League for years. I can say this league is on par," Watkins said after the match. He described his debut as a "physical and demanding" game. But is one match, one goal enough to make a comparative statement between two leagues? Look at the data. Opta, the world's leading statistics provider, ranks the Saudi Pro League 39th globally. The Premier League tops this ranking. The gap between 1st and 39th is a chasm. The average team rating of Saudi clubs according to Opta is 75, while English clubs have completely superior ratings. This difference cannot be filled by an 86th-minute header. I have followed football in Japan for over three decades, witnessing the J.League go through a phase of recruiting big stars but failing to compete with Europe's top leagues. The same lesson is repeating in Saudi Arabia. The difference lies in squad depth and the consistent quality across the entire league. Al Hilal may have the most expensive squad in the league, but the other 18 teams do not have similar resources. Al Hilal is having an impressive start with three consecutive wins, scoring 12 goals. Watkins scored in his first match, while new teammate Crysencio Summerville – a £60 million signing – also found the net in this game. Al Hilal's recruitment strategy has clearly changed: no longer targeting only past-prime stars like Cristiano Ronaldo or Riyad Mahrez, but aiming at players in their prime. But this change creates a paradox. Watkins came to Saudi Arabia while still at his peak, still with a chance to play in the World Cup. If the league is truly as strong as the Premier League as he claims, why aren't other English players flocking here? And if the league is weaker, will playing in a less competitive environment affect his form ahead of the World Cup? The answer lies with Watkins himself. He chose a three-year contract, securing his finances for the final stage of his career. This is economically rational. But sportingly, this is a gamble. If his form declines, his place in the England squad will be threatened. If he succeeds, he could become a pioneer opening the door for a wave of English players to play in Saudi Arabia. I was once thrown out of a press conference in Tokyo for asking a difficult question. My question remained on the table. And the question for Watkins is the same: Is one goal enough to claim a league is as strong as the Premier League? Or is it just debut-day emotion? Look at Opta's number 39. Look at the reality that Al Hilal is playing in a league where only 3-4 teams truly compete. And wait to see if Watkins can maintain his form after 10 more matches. Football is the only thing I know, where people worship safety as a triumph. Watkins chose financial safety. But that safety may come at the cost of his international career. Time will tell.