Leeds United had an unforgettable summer in 2024 when the club failed to return to the Premier League on their first attempt under Daniel Farke. Their playoff final loss to Southampton set off a chain of events.
Multiple players left Elland Road that summer, with Leeds losing three key players.
Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter were all snapped up by Premier League clubs. Summerville ended up at West Ham, Gray with Spurs and Rutter at Brighton.
Despite losing some of their best players, Daniel Farke still managed to win promotion the following season.
Leeds are now back in the top flight, and have survived their first season. Their aim this year will be to repeat their 14th-placed Premier League campaign.
Saudi club reach agreement to sign former Leeds star
Leeds United are used to losing fan favourites over the last few years.
This summer saw them suffer a huge blow as Pascal Struijk joined Brighton last month. The defender wanted a new challenge, and turned down the chance to stay at Elland Road.
Struijk was among the signings Victor Orta made during his time in West Yorkshire.
Leeds invested in bringing in high potential young players for modest fees. That move ended up benefitting that club in the long run, as players like Pascal Struijk, Crysencio Summerville, Joe Gelhardt and Mateo Joseph came through the ranks.
Summerville was a talent that lit up Elland Road when he broke into the first team.
His move to West Ham a few years ago elevated his status. Summerville had his best season this past year and went on to excel for Netherlands at the World Cup this summer.
🚨 EXCL: Al Hilal reach agreement with West Ham United to sign Crysencio Summerville. Deal for 24yo #WHUFC winger worth ~€80m & #Netherlands int’l scheduled to undergo #AlHilal medical. Long-term contract ready, pending final authorisations @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/Hr429OPfhF
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 21, 2026
David Ornstein of The Athletic is reporting that Al Hilal have agreed a deal around £70 million for the winger. AS Roma were in the lead in the race, after having submitted a £40 million bid, but they have now been blown out of the water.
READ MORE: Leeds United monitoring sensational 55-goal striker who would cost a record fee
Leeds need serious sales in this window
The Whites have already invested big this summer with the arrivals of Harry Wilson and Tarik Muharemovic.
Pascal Struijk and Isaac Schmidt have been the only departures so far. Both moves were necessary for the club financially; Leeds needed the funds from Struijk’s sale for last year’s PSR deadline and the club made no ‘book’ loss on Schmidt.
But in order to be able to go all out in this window, some more players need to be sold.
Leeds have a handful of player with no future at Elland Road, and will need to cash in on some of them.
Is Summerville really going to.waste his best years in Saudi? What a waste.