Somerville joins Al Hilal in record €70m deal from West Ham

Al Hilal have completed the signing of Netherlands winger Crysencio Summerville from West Ham United in what is understood to be the Saudi club’s most expensive transfer of the current window, worth in excess of €70m (£60m).

The 24-year-old has agreed a four-year contract after passing a medical in Amsterdam on Tuesday, according to The Athletic, and will join the Riyadh side as a flagship recruit for the club’s new hierarchy and sporting director Simon Francis, who arrived from Bournemouth.

Al Hilal will pay a fixed €55m, with a further €5m due in add-ons, taking the total package beyond €70m, The Athletic reported. The deal was described as a top priority for the revamped football department at the Saudi Pro League champions.

European competition for signature

Al Hilal saw off interest from several major European clubs to land Summerville.

Roma are understood to have made a formal offer of €46m, while Manchester United asked about the player’s situation and Aston Villa also expressed an interest in signing him. However, the financial scale and structure of Al Hilal’s proposal ultimately proved decisive.

The move continues Al Hilal’s strategy of recruiting high-profile talent from European football as they look to strengthen a squad already packed with established internationals.

Expected exit after relegation

Summerville’s departure from West Ham had been widely anticipated following the club’s relegation to the Championship, despite him being under contract at the London Stadium until 2029.

The Dutch winger joined West Ham in 2024 from Leeds United and became a key attacking option. Over the course of last season alone, he made 56 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing five assists.

His performances ensured he remained on the radar of leading clubs despite West Ham’s struggles, setting the stage for a high-value transfer once relegation was confirmed.

World Cup breakout with Netherlands

Summerville’s form at club level carried into the international arena this summer, when he delivered an eye-catching campaign with the Netherlands at the World Cup.

He scored two goals and set up two more in four matches at the tournament, before the Dutch were knocked out by Morocco on penalties in the last 32.

Those displays on the global stage further enhanced his reputation and helped underpin the level of interest – and the fee – involved in his move to Al Hilal.

The transfer sees one of Europe’s most talked-about wide forwards heading to the Saudi Pro League at the peak of his early career, as Al Hilal invest heavily again in pursuit of continued domestic dominance and greater success on the continental and global stage.