Born on 17th October 1990, English forward Marley Watkins has had an impressive career, currently plying his trade as a striker for Kilmarnock. At a height of 5ft 10ins (1.78m) and weighing in at 10st 3lb (65kg), Watkins commands the pitch in his number 23 jersey.
Watkins' voyage into professional football began in July 2008 when he joined Cheltenham Town in England's League Two. He showcased his nascent skills with 12 league appearances in his debut 2008 - 2009 season, then advancing to 13 appearances with his first league goal the following term. A loan spell to Bath City in the National League South in September 2010 led to a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee in January 2011. Over two seasons at Bath City, Watkins graced the field on 59 occasions, netting eight goals.
July 2012 saw Watkins transfer from Bath City to Hereford United in the Southern Football League. His solitary 2012 - 2013 season with Hereford granted him 34 league appearances and a collection of five goals. Watkins journey then took him north of the border in July 2013, as he joined Inverness CT in Scottish League One. During his two-season spell with the club, Watkins made 59 appearances pumping the ball into the back of the net on eight occasions.
Watkins returned to England in July 2015 as he joined Barnsley in League One. Over two seasons at Barnsley, he netted 15 goals in 76 appearances. His performance attracted attention from Norwich City, who secured his services in July 2017 where he made 24 league appearances. July 2018 initiated another phase of Watkins' career as he transferred amidst Bristol City's ranks for a fee of around £1m. Over three seasons with Bristol City, Watkins made 27 appearances and scored three goals.
An adventurous loan spell moved Watkins to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership in August 2020. Over three seasons, he made 56 appearances and bagged six goals before returning to Bristol City in January 2021. Following a short stint back at Bristol, Watkins wandered back to Scotland with Aberdeen again, registering another nine appearances coupled with two goals in the 2020 - 2021 season.
June 2021 presented yet another venture for Watkins as he temporarily joined Cardiff City. Shortly thereafter, he transferred permanently to Aberdeen in Scotland only to deviate to Cardiff City the following month. His football journey then compelled another return to Scotland, the destination this time being Kilmarnock in July 2023. As of the current 2025 - 2026 season, Watkins has lit up the pitch with 78 appearances and 14 goals across three seasons at Kilmarnock, even making his mark in the League Cup with one start and three appearances as a substitute.
