What looked like a straightforward move to Roma turned into one of the most dramatic transfer sagas of the summer, with Al-Hilal swooping in at the eleventh hour to hijack Crysencio Summerville’s move to Serie A and agree a deal with West Ham worth up to £60 million.
How Close Roma Actually Came
This wasn’t a simple case of Al-Hilal winning a straightforward bidding war. According to reports out of Italy, Roma had already sent a plane to Rotterdam to collect Summerville after three days of negotiations, timed perfectly so he could appear on the club’s balcony alongside Paulo Dybala at Roma’s 99th anniversary celebrations. The Dutchman had reportedly agreed personal terms on a four-year deal worth €4.2 million per season, with West Ham accepting an offer in excess of €50 million, a fee that would have made him the highest-paid player in Roma’s history.
Then Al-Hilal Stepped In
Just as the deal appeared done, Al-Hilal blew the negotiations apart. According to Sky Sports, the Saudi club agreed a total package worth £60 million with West Ham, consisting of a guaranteed £55 million fee plus £5 million in potential bonuses, nearly double Roma’s original £39 million proposal that had been rejected on Monday. The Saudi club’s offer proved impossible for West Ham to turn down, and Roma have since confirmed they won’t be matching it, already turning their attention to alternative targets including Norway World Cup stars Antonio Nusa and Andreas Schjelderup.
A Genuine Battle for Summerville’s Heart
What makes this saga so compelling is that money alone didn’t seal it instantly. Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport detail how Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini personally contacted Summerville in a last-ditch effort to convince him to choose Italy over Saudi Arabia, pitching him a central role at the club, Champions League football, and the chance to eventually earn a return to a top Premier League side. Summerville’s friend and Netherlands international teammate Donyell Malen reportedly also got involved, adding pressure to the decision.
By evening, Summerville had actually paused his scheduled medical with Al-Hilal, with reports suggesting his family weren’t fully convinced by the move to Saudi Arabia either. It remains genuinely unclear whether personal preference, family concerns, or simple financial reality ultimately swayed the final decision, but the deal with Al-Hilal has since been confirmed as agreed.
A Career-Defining Fee
Whichever way the emotional tug-of-war played out behind the scenes, the numbers are extraordinary. Should the move be finalised, Summerville’s £60 million departure would rank as the third-highest sale in West Ham’s history, behind only Declan Rice and Mateus Fernandes, remarkable considering West Ham signed him from Leeds for just £25 million back in 2024.
A Breakout World Cup Sent His Stock Soaring
Summerville’s timing couldn’t have been better either. Despite West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League, his club form, seven goals and five assists last season, earned him a place in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, where he continued to impress, scoring a stunning strike off the bench in a 5-1 demolition of Sweden before featuring throughout the tournament.
What Happens Next?
With Al-Hilal’s offer accepted and a medical reportedly rescheduled, all that remains is for Summerville to make his final decision and complete the formalities. For West Ham, banking up to £60 million for a player bought for a fraction of that fee represents outstanding business as they continue rebuilding following relegation.
Would you have chosen Roma’s Champions League project over Al-Hilal’s financial windfall? Let us know your thoughts below.
