"Playing dirty" accusation against West Ham: behind Summerville's transfer

The background to a months-long transfer saga that ended up in an unexpected place has finally emerged. According to The Athletic, Crysencio Summerville refused to join Tottenham out of respect for West Ham; the player did not want to join another London club. Manchester United was the Dutchman's favourite destination, but his arrival was conditional on Marcus Rashford's departure.

This detail reframes the entire process of the file. With his exit from West Ham confirmed following the club's relegation, the 24-year-old winger drew intense interest from clubs including Manchester United, Aston Villa and Roma; it is recalled that United's move was entirely dependent on Rashford's permanent transfer to Barcelona, and that this scenario fell apart when Rashford unexpectedly decided to stay at Old Trafford.

The name that eventually entered the picture came from a different direction. Following West Ham's rejection of Roma's formal €46 million offer, Al Hilal stepped in and reached an agreement worth around £60 million (£55m guaranteed plus £5m in bonuses), a development that priced Roma out of the market.

This last-minute development also drew criticism. According to journalist Luca Cerchione, West Ham were negotiating with Al Hilal at the same time as talks with Roma, with the Italian club apparently unaware of this, leading to accusations that the process had been "played dirty."

The financial significance of this transfer for West Ham is also substantial. Recalling that West Ham sold Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham for £85 million this summer, it is emphasised that the Summerville transfer brought the club's total revenue to around £145 million.

Source: The Athletic
Image: Anadolu Agency