Leeds United Confirm Eighteenth Senior Transfer Exit of the Summer Window in Eight-Figure Deal.
Since the play-off final in May, Leeds United has seen eighteen senior players depart, with Crysencio Summerville being the most recent. West Ham United is reported to have struck a deal worth over £25 million with Leeds by activating a release clause in the winger’s contract, which will also include additional fees.
This loss marks the departure of last season’s Championship standout and a third key member from the squad that achieved 90 points last year. Summerville’s exit follows that of Archie Gray and Glen Kamara, leaving gaps for Daniel Farke to address.
Jayden Bogle and Joe Rothwell have already joined to help fill these gaps, but Gretar Steinsson, Nick Hammond, and Farke now need to target other attackers they have identified. Summerville’s exit was anticipated, especially after Leeds’ promotion hopes were dashed.
LeedsLive reports that the release clause in Summerville’s contract was activated when the club was relegated from the Premier League last year. With a lack of substantial senior experience, no teams were willing to pay over £25 million for the young talent, allowing him to stay at Elland Road for the last season.
Due to the failure to secure promotion, Summerville’s release clause remained valid, similar to the loan clauses in Jack Harrison and Rasmus Kristensen’s contracts. West Ham was the only club to act on the terms of the Dutchman’s contract, finalizing the deal on Wednesday before taking him to London for a medical examination.
Interest from West Ham intensified during United’s training camp in Germany. On the morning of a friendly against Schalke, Summerville reported a hamstring issue while Angus Kinnear received calls from the Hammers.
Summerville made significant contributions in Farke’s first season, participating in 28 goals and supporting the team during challenging times. His progress was notable after receiving criticism during the club’s relegation campaign from Jesse Marsch.
In November 2022, Marsch commented, “A big factor for him is discipline, professionalism, and work ethic. I’ve been on top of him again this week to ensure he has a productive training week, and he has looked great, so we’re hopeful he can establish himself more.”
Marsch emphasized the importance of Summerville’s commitment to training, preparation, and learning. After Summerville’s birthday in October, Marsch noted that he had declined a request to return to the Netherlands, despite the player sharing images of his trip home on Instagram.
Fans are hopeful that United has already begun searching for possible replacements and can secure a new player quickly, ideally before the opening match against Portsmouth next weekend. Meanwhile, Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, and Georginio Rutter remain the most viable options for Farke in the wide positions.
