Dutch winger Ernest Summerville is set to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, despite previously agreeing to a move to Roma, according to reports in Italy. The transfer comes as a late shock, with Al-Hilal reportedly offering a significantly higher financial package than Roma was prepared to present.
Roma, managed by Daniele De Rossi, had been heavily linked with Summerville, believing they were on the verge of securing his signature. A flight had even been booked for the player to travel to Rome, but was ultimately cancelled as Al-Hilal’s offer emerged. The Italian club had offered Summerville a four-year contract worth €4 million per season, but this was dwarfed by Al-Hilal’s proposal of over €10 million annually, plus bonuses.
Al-Hilal also submitted a bid of approximately €80 million for Summerville’s transfer, exceeding Roma’s offer of €50 million. West Ham, Summerville’s current club, allowed the player to make the final decision, and after considering both options, the 24-year-old opted for the move to Saudi Arabia. The financial incentive proved too strong to resist, despite Summerville seemingly having given his word to Roma.
This marks another setback for De Rossi in the transfer window, having already missed out on other targets. The situation is particularly frustrating given the advanced stage of negotiations with Summerville, and the potential loss of another target, Garnacho, who is now in talks with Aston Villa after waiting for a move to Roma that never materialized. Al-Hilal, now managed by Simone Inzaghi, will add Summerville to a squad that already includes Karim Benzema. Roma will now refocus their efforts on alternative options, with Nusa and El Mala identified as potential replacements for the Dutch winger. The club retains a substantial budget to pursue these targets.
Summerville has spent the last several seasons with West Ham, establishing himself as a promising talent in the Premier League. He has demonstrated pace, dribbling ability, and an eye for goal, attributes that made him a desirable target for Roma. The move to Al-Hilal represents a significant financial windfall for the player, but also a departure from the traditional European football pathway.
