West Ham agree £68m deal with Al Hilal to sell Crysencio Summerville
West Ham United have reached a £68m agreement with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal for the transfer of Netherlands international Crysencio Summerville on Tuesday.
The massive deal, worth approximately €80m, was swiftly accepted by the recently relegated Championship side after the offer arrived late in the afternoon.
It represents a significant financial boost for the East London club following their disappointing drop from the Premier League last season.
Roma bid rejected by Hammers
The lucrative offer from the Middle East effectively hijacked a proposed move to Italy for the highly rated Dutchman.
Serie A giants Roma had been actively attempting to secure the signature of the 24-year-old winger.
However, a £39m proposal from the Italian capital was firmly rejected by the Hammers hierarchy on Monday.
The successful bid from Al Hilal is worth nearly double the initial approach made by the Romans.
Record summer departures continue
Assuming personal terms and medicals are finalised, this transfer will become the third-highest sale in West Ham’s entire history.
Only the departures of former captain Declan Rice and recent departee Mateus Fernandes have generated larger transfer fees for the club.
Fernandes completed a staggering £85m switch to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the current transfer window.
Once the Saudi move is fully processed, these two high-profile summer exits will have raised in excess of £150m for a club now preparing for life in the second tier of English football.
West Ham rebuild under way
The significant financial influx will be crucial as the relegated side restructures its squad ahead of a demanding Championship campaign.
Several notable departures have already been confirmed during a busy summer of transition at the London Stadium:
- Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur for £85m
- Callum Wilson to Brentford on a free transfer
- Krisztian Hegyi to Sparta Prague for an undisclosed fee
In return, Keiber Lamadrid remains the only confirmed incoming arrival so far after joining from Deportivo La Guaira.