West Ham: Crysencio Summerville is 'wrong' for £60m Al-Hilal transfer - "It's a bit sad" | OneFootball

FLW's West Ham fan pundit isn't a fan of Crysencio Summerville's decision to take his career to Saudi Arabia

Crysencio Summerville's departure from West Ham United this summer, following their relegation to the Championship, seemed inevitable. However, his decision to make a switch to Al-Hilal has come under some scrutiny.

The 24-year-old, who won the Championship Player of the Season award in the 2023/24 campaign with Leeds United, was one of the Hammers' better performers in their relegation term, netting five and assisting four in 31 Premier League outings.

He followed that up with a breakout World Cup tournament with the Netherlands, scoring and assisting twice after being called up for the first time in his career by Ronald Koeman.

The Dutch wideman has plenty of potential to reach the very top of the game in Europe, and Roma, who have UEFA Champions League football next season, were keen on helping him reach that next level, bidding up to £39 million for him.

But that bid was rejected by the Hammers, and Summerville is instead moving to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal for a fee just above £60 million, per the Athletic.

West Ham United fan pundit reacts to "sad" Crysencio Summerville transfer reality

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A lot can be said about the standard of football in Saudi Arabia, despite the star power it possesses. Al-Hilal had the likes of Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly and Darwin Nunez in their ranks, and went invincible last season.

What cannot be denied is the ludicrous amount of money teams can throw at players.

The Sun has speculated that Summerville could be earning a whopping £230,000 per week under the four-year deal he is set to sign with the Saudi side, and it's a prejudice that many English fans share that a move to the Saudi Pro League swaps career reputation for a healthy payday.

Ryan Horn, FLW's West Ham fan pundit, finds it quite disappointing that Summerville would turn down the opportunity to wait on a move to a side that has Champions League football to look forward to, to sign for Al-Hilal.

"I was happy with Roma's third offer, and I thought he was going to take it so he could still play in Europe in the Italian league and still have a chance to play in UEFA competitions if Roma does well," he said.

"But, no, I guess the Saudi League has its own draw, but I don't think it's great that younger players are going there for more money."

Horn doesn't hold anything against Summerville for wanting to leave West Ham this summer, and does wish him the best. But there's a sense that the 24-year-old may have let himself down, as his potential clearly won't be realised in the Saudi Pro League.

"There's no ill will, but it's just a bit sad," Horn admitted. "We know he has great potential, but it's just money, rather than football itself and the prospect of winning trophies and being the best player.

"It's a bit sad, and I think it's the wrong thing for him to do, but it's his choice at the end of the day.

"I'll wish him all the best and, yeah, absolutely amazing money we've got for him."

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The more cynical parts of the West Ham fanbase who focus on the present and the future of the club, instead of thinking back at past players, won't really care what Summerville does with his career after leaving the London Stadium, and will have hoped that the Hammers got the best deal possible for the Dutchman.

Ultimately, that's exactly what happened. If anyone said after relegation was confirmed that the 24-year-old would end up being sold for north of £60 million this summer, they definitely wouldn't have believed it.

In the wake of their 3-0 win against Leeds on the final day, which saw them down due to results elsewhere, it was reported by The Athletic that West Ham had to raise £150 million in player sales this summer.

Between Mateus Fernandes leaving for £85 million and the Summerville deal, they've reached that target with just two sales, and there'll be more high-profile departures to come, too, you'd expect.

Sales like the Summerville transfer are why West Ham can keep the likes of Jarrod Bowen at the club this summer, and it won't be long until the squad is strengthened even further in the transfer market ahead of their second-tier return.

It is disappointing to see the 24-year-old join a league low in quality on extortionate wages, but from a West Ham perspective, they'll feel as if they've hit the jackpot.