Exeter City academy graduate Ollie Watkins makes England's final Euro 2024 squad

The striker, who broke through at Exeter at the age of just 18, will travel to Germany with Gareth Southgate's England squad.

Ollie Watkins was a driving force behind Aston Villa's stellar 2023/24 season. His contributions were instrumental in The Villains' impressive campaign, which culminated in them securing a place in next season's Champions League.

The 28-year-old striker netted an impressive 19 goals, establishing himself among the league's top forwards. However, it was his 13 assists that truly set him apart from other number 9's. His exceptional assist total earned him the Premier League Playmaker Award, an accolade typically reserved for creative midfielders.

Watkins has been part of the England set-up since 2021. He bagged a goal during his first cap as England demolished San Marino 5-0. He's gone on to make 12 appearances and score 3 goals for The Three Lions. The presence of Harry Kane will always limit Watkins' chances of starting for the national team.

There had been much media speculation that Southgate would only take one additional frontman to Euro 2024 as backup for Kane. Those rumours led many to assume that only one of Watkins or Ivan Toney would make the final cut. However, Southgate has opted to include both strikers in his squad.

Harry Kane's consistency will again limit Watkins' chances of major playing time at the tournament. However, that doesn't diminish the achievement of making the extremely talented squad, which is currently the bookmakers' favourite for Euro 2024.

His fine form in the Premier League this season should see him in prime position to replace Kane if the England main man gets injured or suspended. His ability to play out wide and upfront means he’s also likely to get minutes as a substitute throughout the tournament.

Watkins is still remembered fondly at Exeter City, with many fans keeping an eye on his career. It should fill both supporters and staff with immense pride that an Exeter City academy product will be representing The Three Lions in Germany this summer.