Summerville Al Hilal switch makes Dutch winger one of Saudi Pro League’s costliest signings

Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville has entered Saudi Pro League history after his move to Al Hilal placed him among the three most expensive signings the competition has seen.

Summerville has joined the Riyadh club from West Ham United in the current summer transfer window, with British reports valuing the deal at around €76m. That fee makes the 22-year-old the third-most expensive arrival in the history of the Saudi Pro League and underlines Al Hilal’s continued drive to recruit leading European-based talent.

Neymar still tops Saudi spending list —

The most expensive transfer in the league’s history remains Neymar’s switch to Al Hilal in the summer of 2023. The Brazil forward arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported €90m, a figure that continues to set the benchmark for spending in the division.

Second on the all-time list is Colombia striker Jhon Duran. He joined Al Nassr for a reported €77m, placing him just ahead of Summerville in the Saudi Pro League’s record deals.

Summerville’s fee puts him just behind that pair in third, edging out Italy forward Mateo Retegui, who joined Al Qadsiah for €61m and now sits fourth in the ranking.

Big-money deals highlight Saudi investment

Fifth place in the list is shared by two €60m transfers. France winger Moussa Diaby joined Al Ittihad for that amount, while Brazil forward Malcom moved to Al Hilal for the same fee.

The presence of three Al Hilal players Neymar, Summerville and Malcom among the most expensive signings in Saudi Pro League history highlights the scale of the club’s investment in recent seasons. Those outlays form part of a wider project designed to ensure Al Hilal can compete for every domestic and continental trophy available.

That strategy appears to be continuing with the acquisition of Summerville, who is expected to become one of the team’s key attacking options under new Italian head coach Simone Inzaghi in the coming campaign.