Raphinha set to stay at Barcelona as Al Hilal close in on £67m Summerville deal

Brazil winger Raphinha is now expected to remain at Barcelona next season after Saudi giants Al Hilal shifted their focus to signing Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville in a blockbuster summer move.

Al Hilal turn to Summerville in record deal

According to Spanish outlet Sport, Al Hilal are on the verge of completing a deal for Summerville from West Ham United worth around €80m (£67m), a fee that would make the 22-year-old one of the most expensive players in Saudi Pro League history and reportedly the second-costliest signing the league has ever seen.

The Riyadh club had entered the current transfer window with Raphinha at the very top of their wish list. They were prepared to table a huge financial package, both in terms of transfer fee to Barcelona and salary for the player, in an effort to lure the Brazilian international to Saudi Arabia.

However, Al Hilal’s hierarchy have now effectively abandoned that pursuit and moved decisively for Summerville, who is understood to be close to completing his switch to the Gulf.

Raphinha’s stance blocks Saudi move

Sport reports that Raphinha’s firm desire to stay at Barcelona under new head coach Hansi Flick was the decisive factor that forced Al Hilal to look elsewhere for a marquee attacking signing.

Despite the lucrative offer that could have awaited him in Saudi Arabia, the 27-year-old has consistently made clear his intention to continue at the Camp Nou and fight for his place in Flick’s plans.

That stance left Al Hilal with little choice but to change course. With the club determined to add a high-profile winger this summer, Summerville emerged as the preferred alternative.

Barcelona close major transfer file

Raphinha’s expected stay effectively closes what had become one of Barcelona’s most complex transfer sagas of recent months. The Catalan club had faced sustained speculation over the future of several key assets amid ongoing financial pressures and interest from abroad.

With Al Hilal now out of the picture and the player keen to remain, Barcelona can plan for the new season with Raphinha still part of their frontline at least until the summer of 2025.

The Brazilian has delivered consistently strong performances over his two seasons with Barcelona, establishing himself as an important figure in attack and a regular contributor in decisive matches.

From Ballon d’Or contender to solid mainstay

Raphinha’s level over the past two campaigns was such that, according to the report, he had been considered one of the leading candidates to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, before the award eventually went to France winger Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain.

While that individual accolade eluded him, his influence at Barcelona remains significant, and his decision to stay will be seen by many fans as a boost to Flick’s rebuilding project.

For Al Hilal, meanwhile, the imminent arrival of Summerville signals another statement of intent from the Saudi Pro League’s dominant force, as they continue to invest heavily in European-based talent to strengthen their squad and raise the league’s global profile.