Ollie Watkins is having his moment. The 28-year-old bagged 37 goal contributions last season, propelling Aston Villa into the Champions League, before scoring one of the most iconic England goals of all time at this summer’s Euros, securing England a spot in the final.

Whilst Watkins has been firmly focussed on his on-pitch progress, he’s been quiet about his off-pitch interests.

“Most people don’t actually know that I am a huge sneakerhead,” says Ollie Watkins, as we prepare for the campaign shoot he’s starring in for Crocs, to celebrate their latest genre-bending foray into the frontline of footwear, the Echo Surge.

“I’ve collected trainers since I was quite young and I’m still always buying new pairs to add to my collection – it’s probably my biggest weakness!”

Like Watkins, Crocs have also enjoyed a meteoric rise of late. The brand has been worn by everyone from Justin Bieber to Victoria Beckham and has now started to infiltrate the football world with Reece James and William Saliba having fronted campaigns for the brand, and international stars like Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich speaking openly about their love for the global footwear label. 

The Echo Surge, the latest addition to the franchise, is made for movement, blending sport and street influences to deliver a highly idiosyncratic, future-facing sneaker, as at-home in the city as in the great outdoors.

They come in cool white and grey colourways, accented by electric pops of neon, and, as you’d expect from Crocs, they’re lighter than air and comfy as hell.

To create the campaign that marks their launch, VERSUS got a rare chance – just weeks after his England exploits – to speak to Ollie about his love for fashion and sneakers, and his thoughts on the new Crocs Echo Surge.

We’re seeing more footballers sitting front row at fashion weeks, do you think that will continue and is it something you’d like to experience?

Yeah I think that’s definitely set in place now, especially the bigger brands that have shows at Paris Fashion Week – you’ll always see a footballer at one of those shows at least. They look like good fun, I can see myself attending one or two in the future, definitely.

Right now you’re shooting with Crocs – what do you think of the brand?

⁠I love Crocs. I started by wearing them around the house. They are so comfortable. I’ve gone from solely wearing them indoors, in the comfort of my own home, to wearing them out and about as well. It’s cool that people have started wearing them as a fashion staple.

This campaign features the Crocs Echo Surge – what’s your take on them?

I’ll be honest with you…at first I wasn’t sure! It’s definitely bold and a big move for Crocs to make more of a sneaker like this, but when I put them on I liked how comfortable they were. They’re also super versatile, making them quite easy to style with lots of different looks.  

How could you see yourself wearing them?

I can imagine wearing them in a lot of different scenarios, like going to the beach in the summer with shorts, or maybe also paired with a pair of chinos for more of a relaxed formal look.

Who else in the Villa or England squad could you see wearing them?

Tyrone Mings, he wears Crocs into training all the time, so I'd definitely say him.

‍The Crocs Echo Surge / Echo Collection is available to purchase now via Crocs.co.uk

VERSUS: How much of a role does fashion play in helping you to express yourself off the pitch?

‍Ollie Watkins: It plays a big role. It allows me to be creative in an environment that’s less structured than football. The life of a player is very regimented but when it comes to what we wear away from the pitch, what we actually wear, we can be way more free.‍

How would you describe your style?

It depends on the occasion. If I’m going out for dinner I might go with a more clean-cut fit, whereas if I’m attending a fashion event or I’m in Ibiza I might go for something a little more vibrant and experimental.

During your career you’ve moved around quite a bit – from the South West to London, now you’re in the Midlands – how has this influenced your style?

Thinking about it, I’d say my age has played more of a role in influencing my style rather than where I’ve lived. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve definitely come away from thinking everything I wear needs to be designer and have a label on show. Nowadays, I like to think I’m a lot more sophisticated when it comes to putting an outfit together. Cleaner and more minimalist – those are more important to me now compared to when I was younger.

How important is comfort in what you wear?

Being comfortable is the most important thing for me. If I don’t feel comfortable I probably won’t wear something, to be honest. And that goes for both on and off the pitch, too. Football boots, trainers, outfits. I have to feel comfortable in what I’m wearing, 100%.