Ellie Watkins is the wife of England international striker Ollie Watkins. The couple married in May 2025 and have two children together. As of September 2026, they have relocated to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following Ollie’s £51 million transfer from Aston Villa to Al-Hilal .
The couple’s relationship began in 2018 when Ollie was playing for Brentford in the Championship. They met through mutual friends and had their first date at a Pizza Express in Newbury. Ellie, then Ellie Alderson, was a qualified interior designer who has since built a significant social media presence as a content creator. The pair got engaged during a holiday to Lake Como in July 2024, which Ollie planned while away with the England squad during the Euros .
Their wedding took place at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London in May 2025, followed by a larger celebration on the French Riviera in June. The couple chose three venues for the weekend festivities, including the Grand-Hotel du Cap Ferrat and Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, with around 100 guests in attendance . Ellie wore an off-white ensemble for the Al-Hilal welcoming photos, which she shared with her 94,900 Instagram followers .
Ellie has been open about the emotional toll of leaving Birmingham after six years. In a TikTok video posted after arriving in Riyadh, she described the move as “not on my bingo card for 2026” and admitted she was “still in shock” at how quickly life changed . She explained that Birmingham had been their home for major life events, including the births of their two children, Amara May in 2021 and Marley in 2023 .
The transition to Saudi Arabia has presented practical challenges. Ellie has described “solo parenting” while organizing the move, noting that her children did not start their new school as originally planned. She shared updates about keeping them entertained while managing the logistics of settling into a new country . Despite the difficulties, she later posted that things were “coming together” and expressed excitement about their new life .
Ellie’s role reflects the modern profile of a footballer’s partner, combining family support with an independent commercial identity. She works with beauty brands and sells pre-owned designer clothing online, while documenting family life for a substantial audience . Her social media presence has grown alongside Ollie’s career, which includes becoming Aston Villa’s all-time record Premier League goalscorer and winning the Europa League in 2026 .
Ollie’s transfer to Al-Hilal made him the second-most expensive striker aged 30 or older in football history, behind only Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich. He signed a three-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club . Ellie has described feeling nervous about starting over in a new country but recalled similar emotions when the family first moved to Birmingham, adding that she believes the experience will be positive for their children .
Q: Who is Ollie Watkins’ wife?
A: Ellie Watkins is the wife of England striker Ollie Watkins. The couple began dating in 2018 and married in May 2025 at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London . She is a qualified interior designer and content creator who shares lifestyle and family content on Instagram.
Q: How many children do Ollie and Ellie Watkins have?
A: They have two children together. Their daughter, Amara May, was born in 2021, and their son, Marley, arrived in 2023 . Both children were born during the couple’s six-year spell living in Birmingham while Ollie played for Aston Villa.
Q: Why did Ollie and Ellie Watkins move to Saudi Arabia?
A: The family relocated to Riyadh in August 2026 following Ollie’s £51 million transfer from Aston Villa to Al-Hilal . Ellie described the move as unexpected, saying it was “certainly not on my bucket list for 2026” in a social media video .
Q: Where did Ollie and Ellie Watkins get married?
A: The couple held their legal ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London in May 2025 . They followed it with a larger celebration on the French Riviera in June 2025, with events at venues including the Grand-Hotel du Cap Ferrat and Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, attended by around 100 guests .
Q: How did Ellie Watkins react to moving to Saudi Arabia?
A: Ellie initially broke down in tears, admitting her “heart is hurting” to leave Birmingham after six years . By September 2026, she shared a more positive update, saying she was “feeling excited now things are starting to come together” as the family settled into their new life .
